After killing top Chhattisgarh Congress leaders recently in a deadly ambush, now the Maoists have planned to turn heat on upcoming Rowghat project which is crucial for Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), the highest profit making unit of public sector Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl).
local residents and even senior police officials say that Maoists who are critical of Government’s bid to develop any infrastructure in this poverty-hit forested Rowghat belt, have recently carried out extensive survey of more than 45 villages of Narayanpur, Kanker and Durg districts which are linked to Rowghat rail project. Maoists’ survey was basically intended to keep local innocents tribal people ready to form a human shield with an intention to spike Government’s efforts to lay a rail project in Rowghat area which is home to rebels’ several major hideouts.
The Rowghat Mines contain the second largest iron ore deposits in Chhattisgarh after the Bailadila Iron Ore Mine. Rowghat has estimated reserves of over 500 million tonne of iron ore. The Rowghat project is important for BSP, to get raw material as its mines in Dallirajhara will get exhausted in about three years.
SAIl officials in Chhattisgarh say that any further delay in Rowghat project would have serious impact on Bhilai Steel Plant which pursuing a massive expansion project which will raise its production capacity to seven million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2013 from the current five MTPA.
Ashok Juneja, Inspector General of Police Durg range, has confirmed that intelligence inputs have been received regarding heavy presence of Maoists in and around 45 villages of Narayanpur, Kanker and Durg districts adjoining to the project area. Top Maoist leaders of Mad Joint division assisted by Sangham members jointly carried out a major survey of more than 45 villages of the Rowghat project.