Mamata inaugurates Tata Metaliks expansion plant worth Rs 600 cr

The new plant is one of the most advanced DI Pipe plants with high levels of automation and robotics,

MP  |  16 Sept 2022  |  Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday inaugurated phase I of the expansion project of Tata Metaliks worth Rs 600 crore, which will create employment opportunities for at least 1,500–2,000 people. 

Banerjee, speaking at an event in Kharagpur, said Bengal was on a growth trajectory and while the farmers' interests would be kept intact, focus would be to make the state an industrial hub in the near future at the same time. During the programme, about 70,000 people were given appointment letters. 

The Chief Minister had earlier said that 30,000 people will receive job offer letters soon. 

Giving away the letters, Banerjee said that the government's job is to "match make" job seekers and industry with employment generation as its target. 

"Employment generation is my target at the moment. My aim is to make Bengal number one in job creation in the next four to five years." 

Banerjee added that while there has been a 45 per cent decrease in employment in the country, the figure for West Bengal has risen by 40 per cent. 

Recounting state government projects, Banerjee said Tajpur deep sea port is being set up and new airports are being planned in Malda and Balurghat. Extension of the existing ones at Cooch Behar is also being planned. Besides, 26 helipads have been set up across the state. 

On the occasion, Tata Metaliks MD Sandeep Kumar said the new expansion project will take the plant's overall capacity to 4 lakh tonnes per annum in two phases from the existing capacity of 2 lakh tonnes. 

The new plant is one of the most advanced DI Pipe plants with high levels of automation and robotics, which will make the operations safe and efficient. 

Kumar lauded Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initiative in creating a pool of skilled workers through various skill development projects run by the state government. 

He said they have already recruited more than 200 people who had undergone ITI training. More recruitments will be made eventually in the course of setting up the second plant. Besides direct employment, many indirect job opportunities will also be created, Kumar added.

"The state government has given a skill development centre in Midnapore where we are providing training among 700 people annually. We are thankful to the Bengal Chief Minister for inaugurating the proposed plant, which will open avenues for new opportunities," Kumar said. 

Tata Metaliks, since its establishment in 1990, has so far invested Rs 800 crore in its existing infrastructure and created over 5,000 employment opportunities. Four power plants, a DI pipe plant have already come up. With the fresh investment of Rs 600 crore there will be a further expansion in the business thereby opening scopes for huge employment generation. 

Besides supplying superior quality Pig Iron and Ductile Iron Pipes in domestic and internal markets for several years, the Company, as a responsible corporate citizen, has been carrying out various community welfare initiatives mainly in Kharagpur in the villages close to its plant. 

Two of its flagship Welfare projects include — TML 300 Schools Project — to enhance access and quality of education to children in the age group of 3 to 16 years covering approximately 300 villages to make the community child labour free. 

Without taking names, Banerjee criticised BJP's 'Nabanna Abhiyan' and said: "Fight with us if you can. Try to set an example by inventing something instead of causing destruction." 

http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/mamata-inaugurates-tata-metaliks-expansion-plant-worth-rs-600-cr-493112