BL reported that the Indian National Trade Union Congress is in favor of merging the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd with the National Mineral Development Corporation to solve the problem of lack of captive iron ore mines faced by the steel plant.

Mr G Sanjiva Reddy president of the INTUC at a press meet said that the union would strive to get captive iron ore mines to the steel plant and, if for any reason the union government is not in a position to secure mines for the plant, the best solution would be to merge it with the NMDC.

He said “Both are central PSUs. NMDC has many iron ore mines and there will be great synergy in such a move. It will pave the way for raw material security to the steel plant and the NMDC will also gain. There will be a big PSU in the steel sector ready to face competition from the major private sector players entering the Indian market such as the ArcelorMittal, POSCO and others. In fact, we won't mind even the merger of the SAIL, RINL and NMDC. We want strengthening of these PSU units to face competition. We are opposed to all moves to disinvest, or privatize, these plants.”

(Sourced from BL)