Hyderabad: Demanding the immediate reopening of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) plant at Adilabad, BRS working president KT Rama Rao asked the Telangana govt to immediately disclose its proposal and investment for the CCI. KTR said the Centre responded positively to their delegation’s request and assured them that the Centre is keen to revive the plant and would make sincere efforts in that direction.He said that the plant has 2,300 acres of land, including 770 acres of freehold land belonging to the company and over 1,500 acres of leased land. Union minister Kumaraswamy expressed the view that establishing a modern cement plant with an investment of around ₹2,000 crore would be an ideal solution.The BRS working president along with party senior leaders Jogu Ramanna, MP Vaddiraju Ravi Chandra met union minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy in New Delhi on Wednesday and submitted a representation on CCI plant.After meeting KTR told media that sa the union minister made it clear that the Central govt is positive towards reviving the Adilabad CCI plant. However, he said now required is the support, commitment and proactive participation of the Telangana govt.KTR demanded that the state govt immediately announce what proposals it has submitted to the Centre and how much it is willing to invest for the revival of the CCI plant. He asserted that the BRS would continue its agitation until the Adilabad CCI is reopened, as the plant is a major source of employment for thousands in the backward region.Stating that selling the livelihood of 6,000 families as scrap is unacceptable, KTR and the delegation informed the union minister that the Adilabad CCI plant, established in the 1980s, once provided direct and indirect employment to nearly 6,000 people and served as the economic backbone of the region.He said that the area possesses limestone reserves sufficient for nearly 100 years and that the plant, with a production capacity of 4 lakh metric tons , has every potential to operate successfully once revived.KTR alleged that the Telangana state govt has become the biggest hurdle in the revival of the CCI plant.He said that the union govt‘s positive approach towards reviving Adilabad CCI is the result of sustained efforts and pressure exerted by the BRS over the past decade. However, for nearly a year, the Centre has been seeking proposals from the state govt regarding incentives, power subsidy, capital subsidy and GST concessions required for the project.“When the BRS govt was in power, we revived the Sirpur Paper Mills by extending every possible subsidy and support, thereby restoring employment to thousands. If the Congress govt is sincere today, it should immediately extend the mining lease. Out of the proposed ₹2,000 crore investment, if ₹500 crore is mobilized, the remaining amount can be secured through institutional loans. If the state govt contributes ₹250 crore and the Centre contributes another ₹250 crore, the plant can be reopened immediately,” KTR said.ends/
