Andhra Pradesh Welcomes Assurance Against Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Privatization

On Thursday, July 11, Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Human Resources Development, Nara Lokesh, expressed immense joy over Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy’s definitive statement ruling out the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). Lokesh thanked the Union Minister for "upholding the sentiments of Andhra Pradesh and safeguarding the VSP."

"The statement by the Hon'ble Minister, categorically stating that privatization is not on the table, has brought immense joy to our people. Surely, it has also frustrated the dishonest blue media and foiled their attempts to create unrest in the state with their fake, anti-AP narratives. It's as if YS Jagan and the blue media are trying to outdo the other in a race of 'who's more fake & deceitful,’” Lokesh posted on ‘X’.

Reacting to Kumaraswamy's statement after visiting the public sector undertaking, Lokesh, who is also General Secretary of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and son of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, emphasized the TDP and the NDA government's commitment to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his serious concern about safeguarding the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Addressing a meeting after visiting the left bank canal of the Polavaram project at Darlapudi in Anakapalle district, he refuted rumors spread by certain parties claiming he agreed to sell the plant. He stated that he had firmly resisted previous proposals to privatize the steel plant, asserting, "Visakha Vukku is Andhrula Hakku (Visakha steel is the right of Andhras)."

Naidu also announced the imminent commencement of the left bank canal works of the North Andhra Sujala Sravanthi project. He promised that, upon completion, every acre in the region would receive irrigation water. He mentioned that initial irrigation water would be supplied to 2.2 lakh acres by completing the first phase of works with Rs 800 crore. He added that interlinking the Krishna, Godavari, Pennar, and Vamsadhara rivers would ensure the state never faces drought.

Criticizing the previous government's inefficiency, Naidu blamed it for bankrupting the state and closing three sugar mills. He promised justice to the sugarcane farmers and assured that the super-six promises would soon be implemented. He highlighted that, within 30 days of coming to power, the revised pension from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 had already been distributed to beneficiaries, along with the arrears.