New steel policy in 6 months for rapid growth of domestic steel sector: Dalip Singh

23 Mar 2012 Evaluate

The steel sector is likely to get a new steel policy within a time frame of six months. The new policy has been necessitated due to the rising demand for steel which has led to a sharp rise in its imports. This has also brought into focus the multi-billion dollar ventures like those of ArcelorMittal and POSCO which have been hugely delayed due to the land acquisition hurdles.

The national steel policy of 2005 was based on expectations of steel demand growing at a pace of 7.3% with the economy growing at a rate of 7-8%. Given this, the policy had estimated the domestic consumption of steel to be around 90 million tonnes (MT) by 2019-20 and production at 110 MT. Imports were estimated to be around 6MT by 2019-20. However as per 2009-10 statistics, the demand for steel has been growing at 10%, as against an 8% growth in its production. This has led to a sharp rise in imports which stood at 7.3 MT in 2009-10 as against 1.4 MT in 2001-02. 

The new steel policy is being framed with the aim of increasing steel production and ensuring time-bound implementation of green field capacities. The government has set up a Steel Ministry panel headed by the Steel Secretary for monitoring the progress on formulation of the new National Steel Policy. Four task forces have been constituted to study, analyze, consult and formulate draft policy documents on different aspects of the policy.

As per the Joint Secretary Steel, Dalip Singh the new policy will be drafted by the panel in 2 months and finalized within the next 3-4 months. The government envisages taking India's capacity to 145 MT by 2015-16.

ArcelorMittal, which has proposed projects worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, is battling with land acquisition problems. POSCO, which has proposed an Rs 54,000 crore project in Orissa, billed as the country’s largest FDI, is facing regulatory hurdles for several years. Similarly, Tata Steel has been able to acquire only partial land for its projects.

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