New Delhi: Steel Authority of India Limited’s (SAIL) Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has denied reports suggesting that the facility is being considered for sale, calling the claims baseless and misleading.
The clarification follows allegations by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel that the Adani Group was planning to visit the plant, raising concerns over its possible privatisation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, BSP said the Ministry of Steel had already rejected the reports through its official social media account. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit had also declared the claims false.
The plant urged employees, stakeholders and residents of Chhattisgarh to rely on official communications and avoid spreading unverified information.
BSP highlights its industrial legacy
BSP said the plant remains an important part of Chhattisgarh’s industrial identity, supporting employment, ancillary industries and the livelihoods of thousands of families.
The steel plant also reiterated that it continues to operate as a major production unit of SAIL, contributing to the country’s steel manufacturing capacity.
Baghel raises privatisation concerns
The controversy began after Baghel claimed in an October 14 post on X that the Adani Group was set to visit BSP. He alleged that the proposed visit could indicate plans to sell the public sector facility and urged BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh to oppose any such move.
Meanwhile, Bhilai Congress president Mukesh Chandrakar said speculation over the plant’s future had raised concerns among employees, traders and local residents. He cited worries over job security, minimum wages and the future of the township.
However, BSP and the Ministry of Steel have rejected reports of a proposed sale. The claims regarding the alleged visit and any plan to sell the plant remain unestablished.
The issue has drawn political attention to the future of the Bhilai Steel Plant, a key industrial establishment in Chhattisgarh.
