Odisha govt permits Bhushan Steel to operate its Blast Furnace-1, whose licence had expired on 31st Dec 2013.

Now on, Bhushan Steel promoter Niraj Singhal would be hold responsible for any accident happens in the Blast furnace of it Meramunduli (Odisha) based plant as the Odisha government has given permission to renew its 3.5 million tones Blast Furnace-1 in the name of Mr. Singhal. The license period of the blast furnace-1 was expired on 31^st of December.

The state Labour minister Bijayshree Routray has informed that the government has permitted the Odisha Pollution Control Board (OPCB) to renew the blast furnace -1 in the name of Mr Niraj Singhal as the ‘occupier’.

The decision of the state government assumes significant as now on the promoter would be held responsible for any accident happens in the blast furnace and would be liable to be prosecuted under the law.

The original license was given in the name of an ‘occupier’, Mr. Rahul Sengupta a general employee of the company who is responsible for any accidents. However, the OPCB had insisted that the license should be issued in the name of the promoter of the company, director or the any stakeholder of the company, which the company is objecting.