Rao has urged the Central government to reopen the Cement Corporation of India’s (CCI) cement plant in Adilabad.
In a letter to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, Rao mentioned that the unit spread over 772 acres, including a township on 170 acres, had all the necessary infrastructure and limestone reserves to the tune of 48 million tonnes for mining. In addition, it had an assured 2kVA power supply system and water availability to meet its production needs. Reopening of the Adilabad unit would go a long way in fortifying the country’s position as a leading cement manufacturer and the Centre should consider factors like scope for imports to Gulf countries and Africa in the coming days for reviving the activities of the cement plant. He also pointed out that demand for cement was expected to be high in the coming days and the State government had resolved to take up strengthening of roads and highways under Gati Shakti – National Master Plan scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2021.