From the Editor's Desk

During the last decade the steel industry in the country in general has carried on an intensive campaign tor increasing the use of steel in large urban conventional fabrication sectors and also in the under utilized rural sector. Considerable disparity in steel consumption exists between the developed and developing countries as described in the paper "Role of Welding in Structural Steel Intensive Construction in India" by Dr. S. R. Mediratta, et ai of the Institute of Steel Development & Growth (ISDG), Kolkata. The paper has discussed the various uses of steel, dependence of the welding sector on increasing consumption of steel, the importance of welding technology and the growth possibilities of the welding sector - otherwise can one imagine a return to the days of riveted construction? Welded fabrication in steel today is changing the face of urban life. The paper also points to some of the problems facing the fabrication industry like the situation regarding specific steel supply, and also to inadequate demand development in the rural sector.