Bhubaneswar June 11 (IANS) Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh on Monday dedicated to the nation the rebuilt Blast Furnace-1 Parvati of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) which will increase its annual production capacity from 0.438 million tonnes (MT) to 1.015 MT.
The blast furnace is rebuilt at a cost of about Rs 625 crore.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram was present on the occasion.
The blast furnace was put down on August 6 2013 for total rebuilding. Although erected on the old foundation only the rebuilt furnace laced with superior technology has a higher production capacity said an official.
Parvati is the first blast furnace of SAIL that was dedicated to the nation on February 3 1959 by the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad.
Birender Singh also laid the foundation stone of the Burns and Plastic Surgery Department of Super Speciality block at the Ispat General Hospital said a statement.
This unit will be unique in the region and will fulfil the requirements of not only Rourkela but also of the people of neighbouring districts and states it added.
The ministers also visited the state-of-the-art new plate mill of RSP and planted saplings in the Pragati Udyan situated in front of the mill.

--IANS cd/vd