Steel to remain a priority sector for govt: Pradhan

Terming steel as a strong pillar for development, Dharmendra Pradhan, who took charge of the ministry Friday, said it will remain a priority sector for the government.

He has succeeded Chaudhary Birender Singh as the steel minister.

Pradhan, 50, who took charge as the Union minister for the second term, will continue to be the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

"I have been given the duty to look after the steel sector by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which I will fulfil with responsibility. Steel is a strong pillar of development. We have to take this pillar to new heights," Pradhan said.

He further said that a lot has already been done by his predecessors Chaudhary Birender Singh and Narendra Singh Tomar for the sector and steel will remain a priority sector of the government.

In 2017, the National Steel Policy was launched to ramp up the country's steel-making capacity to 300 million tonne by 2030-31 and another policy was launched which gives priority to the domestically ...