Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the State Government would not let NMDC’s under-construction steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar district go into private hands.

Addressing villagers during his ‘Bhent Mulakat’ programme at Nangur under Jagdalpur assembly constituency of Bastar district on Wednesday, Chief Minister Baghel said, “The State Government would not allow the Nagarnar Steel Plant to be sold under any circumstances. Whether it is run by the Central Government or run by the Chhattisgarh Government.”

“I have always been associated with the concerns of the local people in Nagarnar. I have staged dharna and took out ‘padyatra’ to oppose the Central Government’s decision to privatise the Nagarnar Steel Plant”, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the Nagarnar Steel Plant management will have to give jobs to our daughters. During the Bhent Mulakat programme, the local people demanded the Chief Minister to open a college at Nagarnar. The Chief Minister said that the college would be opened only by the Nagarnar Steel Plant management. If the Nagarnar Steel Plant management has taken the land of people, then the college will also have to be opened by the Plant management, he added.

The Chief Minister inquired about the implementation of government schemes at Nangur. Villagers informed the Chief Minister that they are getting the benefits of all the schemes of the Government. Suman Baghel, a beneficiary of Vandhan Yojana, informed the Chief Minister that Had not seen even one lakh in life, this year they earned Rs 12 lakh by selling minor forest produces.

The Collectors go to the Haatbazars and buy from the Collectors at the Government rate. They are very excited to get such a good price, she added. Baghel also made announcements including to give Nangur as tehsil status from sub tehsil, establishment of police station, establishment of Swami Atmanananda English Medium School, college, cooperative bank and 108 ambulance services. Baghel also announced to upgrade Netanar High School to Higher Secondary School. During the Bhent Mulakat programme, Baghel announced to upgrade High Schools at Panarapara, Bhairamganj, Bandapara, Podagud, Dhankhoji and Terenar to Higher Secondary Schools. Besides it, one additional Swami Atmananda English Medium School will be established in Jagdalpur town. Chief Minister Baghel announced that a road would be constructed from National Highway to Lal Bagh for the expansion of public facilities. Apart from this, the work of beautification of the Bhutaha Talab will be done in Chandrashekhar Azad Ward. He also announced the construction of a new building for Maharani Laxmi Bai Girls Higher Secondary School Number 01, Jagdalpur. Industry Minister Kawasi Lakhma, Bastar Lok Sabha Member Deepak Baij, MLA Rekhchand Jain, Bastar Collector Rajat Bansal, Superintendent of Police Jitendra Meen, other officials and public representatives were present. Later, Baghel interacted with villagers at Mangalpur village. He also participated in a programme organised by Bastar Chamber of Commerce. The Chief Minister inaugurated the Police Residential premise. He met delegations of various social organizations at Jagdalpur. He took a night halt on Wednesday night.