HDK promises ₹4,000 crore investment to revive VISP at Bhadravati

Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy has said ₹4,000 crore will be invested to revive the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISP), a subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India, at Bhadravati in the first phase. The work will start by January or February next year.

He was to presspersons in Shivamogga on Sunday. His Ministry, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, had entrusted two firms with the responsibility of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) on the revival of VISP. The DPR for the investment of ₹4,000 in the first phase was ready.

“We will ensure that the unit is revived such that it remains functional for the next 40 to 50 years. I am committed to the revival of the industry. In the initial stages, we are looking for opportunities for production to supply the needs of Railways, Defence and other sectors,” he stated.

Mr. Kumaraswamy visited VISP on Saturday and discussed the revival plans with officers.

Administration in bad state

Further, commenting on the functioning of the Congress government in Karnataka, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the administration was in a bad state. The government had not been able to spend even 10% of its total Budget allocation in several departments in the current financial year.

By increasing taxes, the government had penalised the public and also it had failed to collect taxes properly.

“There is a deficit of ₹15,000 crore in tax collection. Over 65,000 teacher posts have remained vacant. The government intends to build new schools utilising the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. And, to ensure CSR funds, the government is contemplating a new policy on CSR funds of industries in the State,” the Union Minister stated.

He alleged that the government in the State had become inactive. Despite being a national party with long history, the Congress had failed to handle the recent developments in the State.

Leadership change

“Now the issue of leadership change seems to have been postponed for a couple of months. The administration will collapse, as the officers will not listen to anyone given the present scenario,” he opined.

Further, he commented that the involvement of police officials in robbery cases increased whenever Siddaramaiah became the Chief Minister.

Earlier, when he was the Chief Minister, there was a major robbery with the alleged involvement of police near Mysuru. “Recently, there have been many such instances in different locations,” he charged.

S.L. Bhoje Gowda, MLC, and others were present at the press conference.