(b) To improve their financial performance in 1985-86, the public sector steel plants will increase their production of steel from 5.27 million tonnes (estimated) in 1984-85 to 5.9 million tonnes in 1985-86. They will upgrade their technological regimes, improve yields of by products and attain better recovery of waste and secondary arisings, reduce working capital, reduce inventories, optimise captive power generation, better maintenance and increase production of demand oriented products by diversifying product-mix. Efforts are also being made to ensure adequate inputs and of the right quality.

Minotoring system for public sector Steel Plants

337. SHRIMATI KRISHNA KAUL: Will the Minister of STEEL, MINES AND COAL be pleased to state:

(a) whether any monitoring system is being set up in public sector steel plants for ensuring strict accountablelity at all levels; and

(b) if so, what are the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STEEL (SHRI K. NATWAR SINGH): (a) and (b) A three tier monitoring system already exists in the steel plants under Steel Authority of India Ltd. The system in brief comprises of the following.

(i) The first tier of the system is at the plant level where production and related issues are monitored by each department/unit through the plant's production, Plannning and Control Department.

(ii) The second tier of the system is at the Corporate level of SAIL where respective directorates namely Project, Finance, Operations, Commercial and Personnel carry out monitoring in their respective areas. For the purpose of such monitoring, there is a system of getting feedback from the plants and units in the form of daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly reports which enable the Corporate Office to closely monitor the related aspects.

(iii) The third tier of the system is at the level of the Department of Steel. Monthly and quarterly meetings are held with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Functional Directors and the Managing Directors/ Executive Directors of the Plants with a view to review the performance of the Steel Plants. The Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance and other Ministries of Government of India are associated with the Quarterly Review meetings.