VSP not to merge with SAIL: Minister

Vijayawada, June 4 (UNI) The Centre was not planning to merge Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the Corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Union Minister of State for Mines T Subbarami Reddy has said.

Talking to newsmen at Hanuman Junction about 45 kms from here, last night he said he was personally against any merger.

He said VSP was dedicated to the people of Andhra Pradesh who made it a reality through a massive agitation.

Mr Reddy announced that a new mining policy was being finalised by the government which would accord top priority for providing relief and rehabilitation to evacuees while taking up mining activity in a forest area.

Under the new policy, the government would clear new projects only after it was convinced about the relief package, he said.

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