Finally, the NDA government at the Centre dampened the spirits of both the Telugu states with regard to setting up of steel plants at Bayyam in Khammam district of Telangana and at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.
On Wednesday, the Union ministry of steel and mines submitted an affidavit in the court which is hearing a petition filed by Telangana MLC P Sudhakar Reddy on the steel plants issue.
The ministry said in the affidavit that technically, it is not feasible to set up steel plants at Kadapa and Bayyaram as they won’t be viable.
“The consultant McKinsey has submitted a preliminary report to this effect. It is yet to submit a final report. As the things stand now, it is not possible to set up the steel plants. We shall appoint one more task force committee to take a final call,” the ministry said in the affidavit.
The two steel plants were committed by the Centre as part of the AP Reorganisation Act. Both the states have been intensely lobbying for them. After the TDP came out of the NDA, it has stepped up the demand for Kadapa steel plant.
In fact, TDP’s Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh on Wednesday announced that he would take up indefinite fast in Kadapa demanding sanction of Kadapa Steel Plant by the Centre.
“We shall take up a big movement in the district for Kadapa steel plant. Give me permission to take up fast unto death,” Ramesh said.
