AP Dy CM rules out Privatisation of Visakha Steel, announces Relief for Accident Victims; Lokesh Visits Injured
Visakhapatnam, June 9 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday asserted that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) would not be privatised and announced a package of relief measures for families affected by the recent industrial accident that claimed eight lives and injured six.
Addressing the media after visiting the accident site, Pawan Kalyan said compensation of ₹25 lakh each would be paid to the families of the deceased workers, while injured persons would receive ₹10 lakh each.
He added that the entire cost of treatment for the injured would be borne by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of VSP.
He further announced that one member from each bereaved family would be provided employment.
Under retirement and service-related benefits, families of regular employees would receive ₹1.72 crore, while families of contract employees would receive ₹45.75 lakh, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said support would also be extended to ensure continuation of education for the children of the deceased, with benefits on par with those available to children of Steel Plant employees.
To ascertain the cause of the accident, a three-member committee from Bokaro Steel Plant has been constituted and the State Government would extend full cooperation to the inquiry process, he said.
Pawan Kalyan also announced that a meeting with labour unions would be convened shortly to discuss workers’ concerns, management-related issues and technical challenges at the Steel Plant.
Reiterating the coalition government’s stand, he said, “Visakha Steel is the right of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” and added that the government aspired to ensure that the Steel Plant was not privatised.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh also visited injured workers undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital in Visakhapatnam.
He was accompanied by Union Minister Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Minister Sandhyarani, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and Telugu Desam Party State president Palla Srinivasa Rao.
Lokesh interacted with injured workers R. Mallikarjuna Rao, Gudivada Arjuna Appa Rao and B. Satyananda and enquired about their condition.
He directed doctors to provide the best possible treatment and assured the victims and their family members that the government would stand by them and extend all possible support.
TNT KM
