Crackdown on illegal mining in Orissa hits steel industry
April 7th, 2010 - 10:12 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, April 7 (IANS) Steel producers of Orissa and West Bengal met officials here Wednesday and sought their help to shore up supply of raw material which has been hit by the crackdown on illegal mining in Orissa.
“The plants have almost closed down in West Bengal. In Orissa, there is stock of raw materials for three-four days. If the raw material are not given, then major plants would also close down here in Orissa,” said Bipin Vohra, chairman of SPS Steel, after the meeting.
The industry representatives demanded immediate lifting of restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code from railway sidings and allow transport of raw material from the mines.
“The association members had come today. They have requested us whether we can lift the prohibitory orders in the railway sidings. We have suggested that they should meet the railway officials and request them to transport raw material according to the state government’s guidance,” said Ashok Dalwai, the steel and mines secretary of Orissa.
“About section 144, the district administration can take a decision in this regard,” he added.
The Orissa government closed four sidings last month after more than 300,000 tonnes of unclaimed iron and manganese ore was found. A crackdown on illegal mining was launched soon after.
Last week, 48 representatives of mining companies were arrested in mineral-rich Keonjhar district.
- Closure of Orissa railway sidings hits iron ore supplies - Mar 20, 2010
- Orissa takes steps to normalise movement of minerals - Apr 26, 2010
- Iron ore shortage hits Chhattisgarh, Orissa sponge units - Apr 12, 2010
- 800 tonnes of manganese, iron ore seized - Mar 08, 2010
- Two more Orissa railway sidings shut over illegal mining - Mar 12, 2010
- Over 500 tonnes of manganese, iron ore seized - Feb 27, 2010
- 90,000 tonnes of iron ore seized in Orissa - Mar 10, 2010
- Former Navy man held for smuggling ore - Mar 23, 2010
- Crackdown on illegal mining in Orissa to continue - Nov 14, 2009
- 600 tonnes of iron ore seized in Orissa - Feb 03, 2010
- Trade unions' strike hits life, businesses in Orissa - Sep 07, 2010
- Odisha halts work at SAIL mine - Feb 14, 2012
- Odisha, Jharkhand to check iron ore smuggling - Feb 09, 2012
- Crisis in Chhattisgarh's mini steel plants - Nov 14, 2011
- Orissa suspends licences of 482 ore traders - Nov 11, 2009
Tags: ashok, association members, crackdown, district administration, guidance, industry representatives, manganese ore, mining companies, orissa government, plants, railway officials, railway sidings, raw material, raw materials, regard, state government, steel industry, steel producers, tonnes, west bengal