NATIONAL STEEL POLICY
The Government
is thinking of preparing a comprehensive steel policy for the
Indian steel industry in the light of the on-going revised restructuring
and globalisation. The policy would endeavour to facilitate development
of a world class and globally competitive steel industry in the
country to cater to the rising domestic demand and to increase
the share of the Indian steel industry in the world market. The
policy would also address all issues of concern to the industry
which inter-alia include technology up-gradation, R&D, quality
enhancement and chalk out a desirable course of government initiatives
and appropriate industry strategy consistent with each other to
take the industry from strength to strength.
The first draft
of the National Steel Policy was discussed with all major steel
producers, their associations, consultancy firms in the field
of metallurgy and representatives of FICCI, Ministries of Commerce
and Finance. The participants suggested certain changes to be
incorporated in the policy document and accordingly it was decided
that the draft would be modified in light of the suggestions and
the revised policy document would again be circulated to all concerned
before giving it a final shape.
While further consultations
with industry are in progress, it is observed that the industry
in general shows signs of revival. It was felt that the imperatives
of the changing scenario should be incorporated in the Steel Policy.
Accordingly, a round of fresh informal consultations is in progress
and a revised draft is expected to be circulated again for obtaining
the view of the industry.
This information
was given by the Minister for Steel, Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy
in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
