Bhubaneswar: Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh Friday rubbished media reports of 26 TMT bar brands in the country failing in quality parameters in sample tests, claimed by the First Construction Council (FCC).
Singh, who was in the city to attend a seminar on ‘Why Steel’, said, “I don’t believe such news. Media report is sweeping. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standard is applicable to 86 per cent of products. But I must say it is all about mindset. The companies need to set their mind on achieving trust of the consumers and provide quality materials. It’s now up to the industry. They should live up to our expectation, which is entirely in their interest.”
Singh claimed that BIS doesn’t come under his ministry, but it has taken care of the body.
“BIS approved all norms in order to provide level playing field to the steel industry,” Singh said adding he could not disclose everything.
FCC reported that out of 26 brands, 18 had failed as phosphorous and combination of sulphur and phosphorous were higher than the prescribed limits.
The minister said that he had spoken to the government of Odisha in this connection and assured that the ministry will consider the matter in terms of quality.
Under the National Steel Policy 2017, the central government has targeted to achieve 300 million tonnes (MT) of steel production by 2030-31. However, the concern over quality of the steel products has put a question mark on the government’s credibility.
Singh invited the industry to do research and innovate in the field of steel. He said, “Research and innovation in steel is very much important. In order to regulate this system, we have constituted SRTMI which is taking care of any research and innovation in the field of steel.”
SRTMI is an industry-driven initiative which has been set up as a registered society with the steel as facilitator. SRTMI will be governed and administered by a governing body comprising steel CEOs, domain experts and a representative of the steel ministry.
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PNN