Raipur, Jan 29 (IANS) A ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator in Chhattisgarh Sunday threatened to stop the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) from mining iron ore, saying the company was not employing enough locals.

Bhima Mandavi, the legislator from Dantewada, said he along with his supporters would stop NMDC employees from mining Feb 16 in protest against the company’s refusal to absorb locals in various low-grade posts.

“I have given NMDC the deadline of Feb 15 to either make an announcement to recruit locals in various low grade jobs or face protests,” Mandavi told IANS.

“It would be just a daylong protest Feb 16, but it could turn into an indefinite stir if the demand is not addressed,” he said.

NMDC Ltd, India’s largest iron ore miner, has several mines in Dantewada district, 420 km south of capital Raipur at Bailadila hills, which account for two-thirds of its annual output of 25 million tonnes. The company transports more than 40,000 tonnes of iron ore daily from Kirandul and Bacheli locations of Bailadila hills.

“We have to strongly fight now against NMDC that takes out our natural resources in abundance but refuses to even listen to our demand to appoint local people,” said Mandavi.

The company officials based in Chhattisgarh refused to comment on the charges of the Dantewada legislator.

“It’s the job of NMDC officials based at the company’s headquarters in Hyderabad to look into such issues,” said an official.