VISAKHAPATNAM: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has left an indelible mark on the City of Destiny. In 2006, the former Prime Minister laid the foundation for the expansion of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) with a massive investment of over Rs 8,600 crore.
“The steel that comes out of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is based on the blood, sweat and tears of the Telugu people,” said Dr Singh during his visit to Visakhapatnam, according to an official press release available at the Prime Minister of India’s website.
“We must all work together to ensure that India, with its huge iron ore reserves, becomes one of the largest producers of steel in the world, and does so in an efficient, competitive manner,” Dr Singh said.
Commending the turnaround of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant a ‘landmark achievement’, he said, “It shows that given the hard work, commitment and favourable market dynamics, our PSUs can perform well against competition. From being a perpetually loss-making company ready for disinvestment, to being a firm with zero debt and over Rs 2,000 crore profit in 2004-05, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has shown other loss-making steel plants the way forward. The huge investment being made to double its capacity is a signal of the commitment of our government to making this a world class steel plant.”
Later, Dr Singh stated that he is aware that Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) was passing through difficult times, and he made an emphatic declaration that his government would work for the revival of HSL, and also to finalise the proposals for revival of Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels (BHPV).
‘We must pay attention to eco impact of tech’
“A proposal for HSL revival is under consideration and our government will work for its revival, which is the largest in the east coast. I hope with our efforts, we will once again have a world class shipbuilding industry in Vizag,” he said.
During the launch of India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine in July 2009, Dr Singh said, “The launch represents the determination and patriotism of our technologists, scientists and defence personnel who have overcome several hurdles and barriers to enable the country to acquire self-reliance in the most advanced areas of defence technology.”
He also addressed the 95th Indian Science Congress at Andhra University on January 3, 2008. Highlighting the theme ‘Knowledge-Based Society Using Environmentally Sustainable Science and Technology’ Dr Singh emphasised that we have adopted a pro-active and pragmatic approach to the problems of environmental degradation. “As our economy grows and modernises, we must pay increasing attention to the environmental impact of the technological choices we make, the investment choices we make, and the consumption choices we make as individuals and as a nation,” Dr Singh said.