NMDC’s upcoming 3 MTPA Nagarnar Steel plant near Jagdalpur in Bastar will begin operation from October, NMDC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)  N Baijendra Kumar said on Tuesday.

He was addressing the two-day National Seminar jointly organised by NMDC ltd and FICCI here. The symposium was organised on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of NMDC.

Asserting that Bailadila region has best quality iron ore reserves, Kumar said that the NMDC recorded highest iron ore production this time in the past 60 years. "All of our mines in Chhattisgarh are having five star rating", he said.

He refuted the charges of opposition to Nagarnar plant at local level and said that till now, 300 locals have been recruited at the initial stage. Kumar said that after the inauguration of Nagarnar Steel plant this year, there will be immense possibilities for other allied industries to grow in the region.

Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnudev Sai in his address said that mines and steel industry played a vital role in the rapid economic development of the nation.

Royalty on minerals had been increased and the states producing minerals are getting greater revenues after the establishment of Districts' Minerals Fund. New avenues of development had been opened in the regions, he said.

Sai said that the excavation of minerals is done using eco-friendly methods by the NMDC. The mines are allocated Five Star ratings.

Chhattisgarh Industry Minister Amar Agrawal said that Chhattisgarh will attain the top spot in 'Ease of Doing Business' in the entire country soon.

He added that the new Industrial Policy of the State had created a positive environment for steel and allied industries .

Bastar will play a vital role in the economic development of Chhattisgarh and NMDC will be the pillar. The District Minerals Funds had generated an additional funding of Rs 12,000 crores for the region, Agarwal said.