Trade union leader and Sukinda Region Chromite Khadan Mazdoor Sangh organising secretary Narayan Chandra Dhir, while expressing pleasure over the Centre’s nod to hike mineral royalty, hoped that it will bring a turnaround in the mineral bearing areas and help reengage at least 15,000 labourers and 5,000 idle trucks.
These workers and truck operators had to lose their livelihood after the mines were closed. Besides, Dhir urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take adequate step to re-operate the 27 closed mines out of 35 of the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). They were closed on the plea of higher cost of production of the minerals and mounting losses.
Moreover, the union leader in his letter to the Chief Minister cited that families of around 15,000 mining labourers were starving as Mishrilal, FACOR and Sukinda Chromite mines were shut down in the last six months due to various reasons.