The Steel Complex Employees Coordination Committee suspects the role of land mafia in the recent take over of SAIL-SCL Kerala Limited at Cheruvannur by a private firm, even as the company was under the rule of a Receiver. The employees have also alleged the ministers of Industry and Public Works departments of betraying their trust that the company would be protected by the State government.
“Industries Minister P. Rajeeve and Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas had promised us that the government would do the needful to protect the company. But now the government is even ready to handover its shares to Chattisgarh Outsourcing Services that is taking over the steel complex,” K. Shaji, convenor of the committee told The Hindu. He said the company had become a scapegoat to the lack of understanding between Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Kerala government.
“The State government always blamed SAIL for its neglect. On the other hand, SAIL has clarified that the State did not keep its word that TMT bars from the steel complex will be used for PWD works in the State by default. The Public Works Minister, who is also the local MLA, could have made it possible quite easily,” Mr. Shaji alleged. It was in 2011 that SCL and SAIL jointly procured a loan of ₹45 crore from Canara Bank for the construction of a re-rolling mill.
