Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah orders to stop work on Rs 54,000-crore steel plant in Koppal

Koppal: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to stop preparatory works for the proposed mega steel plant by Baldota Steel and Power Limited (BSPL) on the outskirts of Koppal town following protests by various organisations and religious heads.

A delegation of the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in Bengaluru on Tuesday opposing the factory with a production capacity of 1.50 crore tonnes.

Koppal District in-charge Minister Shivaraj Tangadgi led the delegation of representatives of all political parties and environmentalists. They contended that more dust will be generated if the factory is expanded, causing serious health problems to the people.

The Chief Minister told the delegation that Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has not given permission to start the factory and said that the reports on the impact of people's health have come to his notice. He also said that a meeting would be conducted with industries minister M B Patil in this regard and also sought a report on the works being done for establishing the factory.

MP Rajashekar Hitnal, MLAs Janardhana Reddy, Chief Minister's economic advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, Doddanagouda Patil, Raghavendra Hitnal, MLCs Hemalatha Nayak, Sharanagouda Bayyapur, JD(S) leader C V Chandrashekar, BJP leader Dr Basavaraj Cavatar were part of the delegation.