With the onset of monsoon season, the Steel Authority of India’s (SAIL) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has ramped up its activities to sustain production and to prevent flood-related challenges. The rainy season is considered as one of the toughest conditions for the operation process of the integrated steel industry, every possible measure has been taken to maintain the production chain.

Further, intensive cleaning and desilting work was carried out by the plant using heavy machinery like JCB, bulldozers and dumpers in all the major drains and channels nearby. The overburdened heap was cleared near the drain, which connects Nala Road and Plant Perimeter Road near the plant. Besides, activities like de-weeding and desilting of 6.2 kilometers of Guradhi Nullah, cleaning of the 36-kilometer surface drain, 1.2 kilometers of North Channel, 1.2 kilometers of Fertilizer Nullah, cleaning of the channel to the lagoon for free flow of stormwater, and cleaning of 1.65 kilometers of underground drains were carried out.

Notably, RSP’s Civil Engineering (Services) Department starts monsoon preparations well in advance every year. Carrying forward the activities like previous years, the department took up massive proactive measures by boosting the infrastructures in case of any exigency.

Additionally, a round-the-clock Flood Control Room (FCR) has been set up at the office of the General Manager In-charge, CE(S) to constantly monitor the situation. Two other control rooms at RC(M) and Tarkera Pump House are also made ready to meet any exigency.

RSP’s sustainable peripheral development initiative

Apart from making quality steel, Rourkela Steel Plant has imbibed a credo to spread smiles amongst the people living in the neighborhood. RSP has adopted a strategy of ushering in sustainable development in its peripheral villages. The initiative involves providing healthcare facilities, infrastructure, providing education to women, promoting advanced techniques of agriculture, skill enhancement, land and water management to livestock development. The multifaceted approach of RSP aims at uplifting and shaping every aspect of life and living of its neighboring community.

Taking forward this unique gumption, the plant has set up the Institute for Periphery Development, which functions as the nerve centre of all the activities taken up under periphery development. The Institute trains villagers in various income generation activities.

Further, the adoption of 16 villages as ‘Model Steel Villages’ is an imperative stride taken up by RSP to create sustainable models of economic development.

As a part of this Project Kishori, women resource centres have been set up in 30 villages to skill women and ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst them. Besides, a Handloom centre has been established at Deepika Mahila Jagriti Sansthan in the heart of Steel City. Females from various peripheral villages are being trained in handloom production and inputs pertaining to making it a source of income.

Scaling small industries

Rourkela Steel Plant has been helping small-scale industries (SSI) operating in its neighborhood as it considers them as partners. To foster these industries RSP has also made an exclusive wing – Peripheral Industries and Vendor Development (PIVD) – under its Materials Management Department for catering to the development needs of local SSI units.

Providing wide range of health services

Rourkela Steel Plant has been working to provide a healthy environment, which is symbolised by its wide network of medical and health facilities. RSP’s Ispat General Hospital (IGH), which is a 685-bed hospital that provides premier medical facilities to the employees of the plant.