Resources

Expertise

On 3 November 2005, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the National Steel Policy (NSP) production target of 100m TPA.

It also discussed product and demand mix, though it remains to be seen if it really has the necessary expertise to handle such a difficult and diverse subject.

Though the CCEA is aware of the infrastructure requirements eg. roads, railways and ports, it is not known if it will consider anything of relevance to the steel industry and civil engineering other than reinforcements and galvanised roofing and cladding sheets. Since Tata makes products like scaffolding tubes, galvanised sheets and high tensile reinforcing rods, the CCEA may not look beyond these and thus it is essential for structural engineers to represent themselves to the planning commission.

The demand mix for civil engineering should comprise:

• Building construction
• Bridge construction
• Containment structures for food grains
• Bulk handling equipment for the mineral processing, chemical and pharmaceutical industries
• Shipbuilding
• Offshore
• Machine Building

And so on

All of the above need to be itemised and future requirements accurately estimated.