Will take up merger proposal of NINL with SAIL: Srikant Jena

JAJPUR (ODISHA): Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena today said he would take up the matter relating to the workers' demand of merging Nilachal Ispat Nigam Limited ( NINL) with SAIL.

"I will take up the matter and talk to the Commerce Ministry on the workers demand of a merger of NINL and SAIL," Jena told a delegation of NINL workers.

The workers of NINL met the Minister at the PSUs Guest House at Kalinga Nagar and sought his intervention in the matter.

Earlier, the Kalinga Nagar Shramika Sangha, an affiliated labour union to INTUC, had urged the Union Minister to oppose the proposed privatisation of NINL.

"Instead of going for privatisation of NINL, it would be for the benefit of all to allow merger with SAIL," local Congress leader Sarat Rout, who led the delegation of workers, said.

NINL is the country's largest pig iron producer and runs a 1.1 million tonne per annum steel plant at Kalinga Nagar here. Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha also has a stake in NINL.

Industry sources said that the merger would give a better return for both NINL and SAIL. NINL has already been allocated an iron ore reserve which could be beneficial for SAIL if it acquires the project.