BHUBANESWAR: Even as the Centre claims to have been focusing on growth of steel sector in Odisha, the State Government’s proposal to set up a University of Steel for research and development is gathering dust.With India targeting to produce 300 million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel by 2025 and Odisha contributing nearly 100 MTPA, the State Government had proposed to upgrade the Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute (BPNSI) into a university in 2014. As no step was initiated by the Ministry of Steel over the years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took up the matter with Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh during a meet here in June.
Reminding the Centre’s decision to introduce BTech, MTech and PhD in different streams after making BPNSI autonomous in 2004, the CM had urged him to implement it and upgrade the institute at par with the IITs.Accordingly, the Steel Ministry had prepared a project at an estimated cost of `1,170 crore and sought land from Odisha Government near Bhubaneswar. Odisha Steel Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik said nearly 450 acre of land has been identified on the outskirts of the Capital City for the proposed Steel University as demanded by the Ministry.
“We also agreed to the Centre’s proposal for the State’s contribution of `300 crore. Though they had promised that a team of experts will visit the site and make a feasibility study, it is yet to be done. I have once again written to the Ministry seeking an early response in this regard,” Mallik said.Set up in 2002, the BPNSI at Puri now offers a one-and-a-half-year advanced certificate course on iron and steel manufacturing and plant management besides extending technical consultancy to steel plants for energy efficiency measures.
Since the institute is in bad shape and being run from a rented house due to lack of adequate infrastructure and faculty members, it was proposed to be upgraded into a university.“Though Odisha is bestowed with mines and minerals, the State fails to produce skilled manpower due to absence of any research institute. Most of the skilled engineers working in mines and steel sector in the State are from outside. Once set up, the university would offer degree and post-graduate courses besides providing opportunities for research,” said retired engineer of a Central PSU RC Patnaik.