VSP-JAC Demands Captive Mines to Prevent Privatisation
The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Joint Action Committee (VSP-JAC) has put forth a firm demand for the allocation of captive mines to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the state-owned entity that operates the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The committee’s leaders have expressed that securing these mines would be a pivotal step in preventing the privatisation of the plant.
At a recent meeting held at the Visakhapatnam Public Library on Wednesday, VSP-JAC leaders emphasised that the allocation of captive mines would provide a significant boost to the plant’s operational capacity, ensuring its long-term sustainability and making privatisation unnecessary. According to the committee, the move would also contribute to safeguarding thousands of jobs and retaining public ownership of one of the region’s most important industrial assets. VSP-JAC convenor and former MLA Lake Raja Rao hailed the ₹11,440 crore revival package announced by the Centre as a victory for the people of Andhra Pradesh, stating that it would support the plant’s modernisation and growth. Rao added that the central government’s decision was a recognition of the plant’s importance to the state’s economy and employment.
Additionally, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Visakhapatnam district president P. Sivaprasad attended the meeting, lending his support to the cause. The demand for captive mines forms part of a broader effort to protect the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from privatisation. The VSP-JAC has consistently advocated for the strengthening of public sector enterprises and has warned that privatisation could lead to a loss of local control over critical resources, affecting the livelihoods of the workforce and the economy of Andhra Pradesh. As the debate over the future of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant intensifies, the demand for captive mines represents a key moment in the ongoing struggle to preserve the plant’s public ownership and ensure its continued contribution to the region’s industrial landscape.
