RailEnquiry

The Union government has decided to ignore threats from Maoists and go ahead with developing an iron ore mine in the Left-Wing-Extremism-affected districts of Kanker and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh that would supply raw material to the iconic Bhilai steel plant. It has also decided to construct a 90-km-long railway track through Maoist strongholds to transport ore from the Rowghat mines to the plant.At a meeting, senior officials of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Steel, besides the senior management of Steel Authority of India (SAIL), which runs the Bhilai plant, decided to go ahead with developing the mines that is crucial for the plant, as its current source of ore from Dalli-Rajhara will run out in the next four to five years.“We have assured the Steel Ministry and SAIL officials that it would provide enough security personnel so that work on the important project could go on smoothly. All statutory clearances for the project have been taken and work on the project would commence soon. Although Maoists have threatened to disrupt work at the new mine, which lies in a remote area, we are sure that our security personnel, along with local people, will ensure that the work is completed at the earliest, which will also help in the development and progress in the region,” a senior official of the Home Ministry said.To ensure smooth work at the Rowghat mines and other project areas, which are spread over 2,030 hectares, SAIL has sought five battalions or 5,000 personnel of paramilitary forces. SAIL plans to invest Rs. 5,000 crore in developing the Rowghat mines, which includes Rs. 702 crore for laying of railway track. As per SAIL’s plan, work on laying the first 17 km of the track will begin in December while the remaining will be taken up in mid-2013. Mining will commence once track is laid.