- Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Government of IndiaNamaskar. I’m glad to be speaking to you on the occasion of the India Construction Festival being organized by First Construction Council. I’m aware that appreciable work has been done by First Construction Council as an infrastructure sector think-tank in promoting the growth of the construction sector and creating a platform to bring all stakeholders together. Friends, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given a clarion call for making Atmanirbhar Bharat. An Atmanirbhar Bharat is a strong Bharat with a robust manufacturing sector and a self-laid and globally integrated economy. Building next-generation infrastructure is a crucial element to achieve our goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Steel Policy 2017 was issued by the Government with the objective to make our country self-reliant in all types of steel as well as making Indian steel industry globally competitive. The Ministry of Steel is continuously making efforts to enhance steel production capacity domestically and, at the same time, increase domestic demand. The steel industry plays an important role in the timely and environmentally sustainable growth of the building and construction and infrastructure development sectors, which are crucial for India to become a $5 trillion economy. The recently announced Rs.103 trillion investment plan by the Government for infrastructure development over the next five years and various flagship schemes, such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, development of smart cities, Swachh Bharat Mission, Bharatmala mission, dedicated freight corridors and high-speed corridors, will definitely increase the consumption of steel in the construction and infrastructure development sector. Despite being the world’s second largest producer of steel, India’s annual per-capita steel consumption is one-third of the global average. Hence, there is an excellent opportunity for India to increase its steel consumption and avail the advantages of greater steel usage, such as reduced lifecycle cost, increased durability and greater environment sustainability. The Ministry of Steel has launched a collaborative branding campaigning, ‘Ispati Irada’, with the object of promoting appropriate steel usage in the country and to leverage steel as an easy-to-use, environment-friendly, cost-effective, affordable and stake-giving material. Our key government missions, including those in the social sector such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana, will also have a positive bearing on driving the steel industry and bringing greater strength to society. We are also focusing on giving impetus to exports and reducing imports. The DMISP policy of the Ministry has resulted in steel import substitution to the tune of `200 billion. We have come up with a steel import management system to maintain a database of steel imports that will be helpful in future planning. The Indian steel sector is seeking to fulfil all domestic requirements and also emerge as a major player on the global stage. I appeal to all of you involved in the construction industry to spread awareness on the need for greater steel usage. I’m sure the deliberation taking place in this festival will be useful in enhancing awareness and driving the steel intensity. I again compliment First Construction Council for organising this festival and bringing together all stakeholders and the construction sector for fruitful deliberation. In times of COVID and with upcoming festivals, I also appeal to all of you to contribute to the Jan Abhiyaan Initiative by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to ensure COVID-appropriate behaviour. Do ensure social distancing, avoid large gatherings, observe hand hygiene and make others around you also aware. Remember, jab tak davayi nahi, tab tak dhilai nahi. Jai Hind.