Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma has said that the Central government’s special package will help Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) achieve production to its full capacity.

A day ahead of the visit of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy to the VSP, Mr. Srinivasa Varma on Wednesday said that they had prevailed upon and convinced the Centre to extend a package for the revival of the Plant.

“The Centre wants the VSP to produce steel to its full capacity. We urge the plant management and workers to work towards this,’‘ Mr. Srinivasa Varma said.

The Union Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants steel production in the country to increase to 300 million tonnes by 2030. “We have visited the steel plant at Bokaro and urged the management and workers to increase production,’‘ he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Varma said they would discuss with the workers the issues related to the payment of three-month pending wages during their visit to the VSP on Thursday. He wanted the VSP employees to work hard to achieve profits for the plant.

He said that it was irresponsible on the part of some individuals and organisations to criticise the Centre even after it announced package for the revival of the VSP.

‘The Centre has extended a package of ₹11,440 crore. It is now the responsibility of the management and workers to ensure that the three blast furnaces operate and increase production,’‘ he said.