KONSARI: “A massive socio-economic transformation is taking place in Gadchiroli since Lloyds Metals started industrialisation in the district. The rapid pace at which positive changes are taking place, will help Gadchiroli emerge among the Top-10 districts in Maharashtra in next five years. The foundation stone laying of 4.5 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant is a major step in that direction,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a grand ceremony organised by Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) at Konsari on Tuesday, to mark the momentous occasion. Joint Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli district Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, MLA Mr. Dharmaraobaba Atram, MLA Mr. Milind Narote, MLC Dr. Parinay Fuke, Managing Director of Lloyds Mr. B. Prabhakaran, former MP Mr. Ashok Nete, former MLA Dr. Deorao Holi, IG (Anti-Naxalite Operations) Mr. Sandip Patil, DIG (Gadchiroli Range) Mr. Ankit Goyal, Superintendent of Police Mr. Neelotpal, District Collector Mr. Avishyant Panda, Vice-Chancellor of Gondwana University Dr Prashant Bokare, Sarpanch of Konsari Mr. Shrikant Pawde, ‘Padma Shri’ Ms. Tulasi Munda, Ramesh Bharsakale, Baburao Kohale, Prashant Waghare, Ravindra Ollalwar and other dignitaries shared the dais on this occasion.

Apart from laying the foundation stone for the LMEL steel plant, Mr. Fadnavis inaugurated LMEL’s 4 MTPA pellet plant at Konsari, 85-km slurry pipeline, and iron ore grinding unit at Hedri virtually. He also laid the foundation stone for Somanpalli township, a 100-bed hospital, and CBSE-patterned school at Konsari.

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Addressing the massive gathering of people from various parts of Gadchiroli district, Mr. Fadnavis said that it was the dream come true for him as well as the people of Gadchiroli to lead the industrial revolution in this part of Maharashtra. “With rich deposits of iron ore in the district, and the upcoming integrated steel plant in the next 30 months, India will soon be able to compete with China. I am happy that LMEL and the people of Gadchiroli have been growing together. So far, 14,000 people have got jobs. With the steel plant, 20,000 additional jobs will be generated,” he said.

Once the secondary steel plants come up in Gadchiroli, a steel cluster will develop. “We will support Mr. Prabhakaran in competing with China with good quality and low-cost green steel,” he said. He especially mentioned about LMEL’s initiative of training surrendered Naxalites and giving them jobs so that they could join the mainstream of society.

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Appreciating the women drivers of Volvo pellet trucks, the Chief Minister praised LMEL for training the women from housekeeping to light motor vehicle driving and then to heavy vehicle driving. This has brought about positive changes in their financial stability, and increased salary from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 55,000 as well as provided them with better dignity, he added.

At the same time, the development of Gadchiroli has been environmentally-friendly with initiatives like a slurry pipeline that reduces carbon emission in iron ore transportation, pellet plant, fleet of green vehicles.

“Gadchiroli has been the greenest district of Maharashtra. With industries also we wish to maintain the identity. Hence, we have proposed to plant one crore trees in two years, and today the Government is launching a 40 lakh tree plantation drive,” Mr. Fadnavis said. He lauded the LMEL for working on his suggestion of setting up a high-standard Rajahmundry-type Nursery in Gadchiroli to increase survival rate of plantation to 80-85 per cent. He showered praise upon Mr. Prabhakaran for various initiatives ranging from University Institute of Technology set up at Gondwana University in collaboration with Curtin University, programme for sponsoring higher education of Gadchiroli youths at Curtin University. He said happily, In future, the best mining engineers of India will be from Gadchiroli.

The Chief Minister referred to the Employee Stock Options Programme making workers as shareholders in the company, a new school proposed to be set up at Konsari, a new hospital. He announced that the Government scheme of providing health insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh will be implemented in Lloyds hospitals to extend the benefits to the people.

Earlier, Adv Ashish Jaiswal said, “Gadchiroli is making stupendous progress. Though some people are trying to confuse people, Gadchiroli people will not fall for it. Under the dynamic leadership of the Chief MInister, who is also Guardian Minister of district, Gadchiroli will be among Top-5 districts of Maharashtra soon. He never says no to projects about the development of Gadchiroli.” He specially appreciated Mr. Prabhakaran for treating workers as co-owners of the company.

We can compete with China: Prabhakaran

In his speech, Mr. B Prabhakaran said that the Integrated Steel Plant’s work would be completed in 30 months and urged the Chief Minister to come for its inauguration too. “Before that, we wish to complete the superspeciality hospital and school. With the Government's support, we can compete with China in quality and grade of steel,” he asserted.

Striking an emotional chord with the local people, Mr. Prabhakaran delivered most of his speech in Marathi. The gathering appreciated it with rounds of applause. “We have created the success story of Gadchiroli together,” he said to people in Marathi. He shed light on the company’s journey so far in Gadchiroli. He informed the dignitaries on the dais and the people that 1,500 people trained by LMEL were employed through L T Gondwana, and 3,000 more were being trained. Under ESOP, so far, 10,600 employees including workers have got shares making them not just workers but also shareholders in the company.

Speaking about the Integrated Steel Plant for which foundation stone was laid, Mr. Prabhakaran said that the Jamshedpur plant’s journey started with 1 MTPA capacity, and LMEL’s Konsari steel plant is proposed to be 4.5 MTPA capacity which will be completed in 2 phases. “The secondary steel units should come up in the district as we have got high-grade pellets,” he pointed out.

CM gives appointment letters

Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis presented the appointment letters to four of total 1400 youngsters who joined LMEL on Tuesday. He also handed over the boarding pass to six members of the third batch of students shortlisted for higher education at Curtin University sponsored by Lloyds

Infinite Foundation. Mr. Fadnavis also presented allotment letters to five of 50 students admitted to University Institute of Technology. He provided Employee Stock Option share certificates to five of total 600 workers. Also, he launched the ‘Lloyds Anthem’, which was played on the occasion and won huge applause from people.

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