The government of Indian state Chhattisgarh announced on December 28 its intention to buy Nagarnar steel plant in Bastar region if the Central government goes ahead with the disinvestment plan.
The Chief Minister (CM), Bhupesh Baghel, opposed the privatization of the Nagar plant in the ongoing winter session of the Chhattisgarh assembly which was passed unanimously.
Inspite of the CM’s request to the Prime Minister in August to rethink the decision on privatization, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval in October to the demerger of Nagarnar Steel Plant from National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to pave the way for its strategic disinvestment which is expected to be complete by mid-2021.
Tribals in Bastar have been protesting privatization of steel plants since it was proposed in 2016, following which the government did not act on it. However on August 27, 2020 NMDC demerged the plant, which could be the first step towards privatization.