SAIL BSP: Matter of illegal occupancy of staff quarters reaches Lok Sabha

• While the total number of staff quarters under illegal occupancy was 465, BSP got 83 quarters vacated between 2019 and 2021, said the Steel Minister
• SAIL has no proposal to sell or lease out the land or utilise the land/quarters lying vacant for commercial purpose, said the minister

New Delhi: A question raised in the Lok Sabha on illegal occupancy of PSU staff quarters has brought to light the fact that state-run Steel Authority of India Ltd's (SAIL) Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has a total of 382 staff quarters that are illegally occupied by unauthorised occupants. While the total number of staff quarters under illegal occupancy was 465, BSP got 83 quarters vacated between 2019 and 2021, said Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh in a written response submitted in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

"BSP has got 83 quarters out of 465 quarters vacated from unauthorised occupants from 1.04.2019 to 30.06.2021. The cases of unauthorised occupation are inquired into by the Estate Officer of SAIL as per the provisions under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 for eviction," the minister told the Lower House of Parliament.

SAIL's BSP has leased out surplus staff quarters to current, former employees

While stating that SAIL's BSP does have surplus staff quarters, the Steel Minister added that the surplus accommodations have been leased out by SAIL to employees, both current and former. "Staff quarters in Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) were constructed in keeping with the then requirement. The quarters subsequently rendered surplus have been utilised by SAIL on lease/licence basis in accordance with their relevant scheme / policy to employees/ex-employees," said Singh.

He also added that SAIL has no proposal to sell or lease out the land or utilise the land/quarters lying vacant for commercial purpose. Out of 3,797 quarters identified to be uninhabitable/unfit by Bhilai Steel Plant for demolition, 1,926 units have already been demolished, said the minister.

BSP

SAIL's BSP posted a net profit of Rs 2,301.63 crore in FY21, down from Rs 3,398.94 crore recorded in the preceding financial year. In Q4 of FY21, BSP's net profit was at Rs 1,149.03 crore as opposed to Rs 1,669.86 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. 

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