Parliament Question: Promotion of Steel usage in Rural Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3718 FOR ANSWER ON 11.08.2026 PROMOTION OF STEEL USAGE IN RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE 3718. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY: SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI ANANTA NAYAK: SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI: SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG: SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH: SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state: (a) the measures taken by the Government to promote the use of steel in rural infrastructure including rural housing, bridges, irrigation and agricultural infrastructure, particularly in Odisha, including the Keonjhar and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituencies; (b) whether any guidelines or demonstration projects have been undertaken to encourage the use of steel in rural infrastructure and public assets in Odisha, including Keonjhar and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituencies; (c) if so, the details thereof, including the number of projects sanctioned, completed and under implementation; (d) the details of financial assistance provided for such initiatives during the last three years, State-wise, including funds released to Odisha and projects undertaken in the Keonjhar and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituencies; and (e) the outcomes achieved thereunder in terms of infrastructure creation, durability employment generation and rural development? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA) MINISTRY OF STEEL (a)to(e): Steel is a deregulated sector, and the Government acts as a facilitator by creating a conducive policy environment to enhance domestic steel production and capacity, reduce import dependence and attract investment. Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel, a total of 167 projects of 100 companies across 15 States have been approved, including 19 projects in Odisha. Contd…..2/-: 2 : The Government has also been making significant investments in rural infrastructure and housing through various flagship programmes, which are expected to support increased use of steel depending on project-specific technical requirements. During the last five years, a share of over ₹1.34 lakh crore has been released under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), while rural road connectivity under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and expansion of tap water coverage to over 81% of rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission are contributing to the creation of durable rural infrastructure. These initiatives are expected to sustain demand for domestically produced steel in rural housing, bridges, water supply, irrigation and agricultural infrastructure across the country, including Odisha. However, the Ministry of Steel does not maintain scheme-wise or constituency-wise data on steel consumption, demonstration projects, financial assistance or employment generated under such programmes. *****