The Hindu Business Line : AP allots 10,670 acres for Kadapa steel plant

Hyderabad June 6 The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will lay the foundation stone for the proposed greenfied Brahmani Steel Plant in Kadapa district on June 10.

Announcing this at a news conference after the State Cabinet meeting today, the Information Minister, Mr Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, said that the Cabinet earlier approved the allotment of about 10,670 acres for the steel plant. The land is priced at Rs 18,500 per acre.

The phase one project of the steel plant with a capacity of two million tonnes is likely to be ready in 18 months.

As per perspective plan, the promoters of the plant have indicated that phase II would mean capacity addition of 2.3 million tonnes with a potential to provide direct employment to about 16,500 people.

Other decisions

On other decisions taken by the Cabinet today, Dr Reddy said that they included higher dearness allowance to Government employees, approval of a new sand policy and restructure of the Stamps and Registration Department.

The Cabinet has approved sanction of enhanced DA at the rate of 5.6 per cent of basic pay and cumulative rate of 24.5 per cent of basic pay with effect from January 1, 2007 to Government employees, employees of local bodies, full-time contingent employees and employees of aided institutions and Universities drawing pay scales.

Pensioners will also benefit from this move. This would mean total additional financial commitment of Rs 646 crore.

Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal to reorganise the Registration Department, which is the third largest revenue-generating arm of the State that contributed over Rs 3,500 crore in 2006-2007.

The Government has targeted Rs 4,500 crore for the current fiscal from the Department. The reorganisation has become essential to meet the growing needs and to improve the service levels, while bringing in accountability, said Dr Reddy.

The Minister said that 45 new offices of sub-registrars, 10 offices of district registrars and six offices of deputy inspector-general would be created along with 521 new posts. This would mean additional financial commitment of Rs 8.5 crore. The Cabinet approval for sand policy allows for creation of new district-level committees that would be the regulatory body for auction of sand.

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