Former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai has stressed on the need of reopening of the closed iron ore mines with immediate effect so as to ensure raw material supply to steel and sponge iron industries for State’s development. Addressing the general body meeting of the Kalinganagar Mazdoor Union (KMU) here recently, Ghadai said the industries which have invested hundreds of crores of rupees in Odisha are facing serious challenges to their existence due to closure of mines because of different reasons.
“We invited industries to our State promising them constant supply of raw material. The ongoing industrialization process will be failing if the units shut down for non-availability of raw material. The State exchequer will also suffer huge revenue losses if the industries fail to operate,” Ghadai warned. The BJD expelled leader said, “Although we wanted to do a lot for Kalinganagar, some disgruntled leaders used propaganda to tarnish our public image. But I will not sit calm and continue to work for people as an ordinary BJD member.”
The meeting presided over by Akshaya Kumar Sahoo was attended by KMU central committee general secretary Aswani Dhal, vice president Diganta Keshari Deo, BJD block president Ranjit Harichandan Singh, former Zilla Parishad member Kalandi Sethy, Jakhapura panchyat BJD president Basanta Rout and may others.
A 17-point charter of demands was approved by the committee which would be submitted to the Visa Steel authorities.