The holding of a hearing in
Bhubaneswar recently by the M. B. Shah Commission to inspect the alleged
irregularities in iron ore mining in the country, dealt a blow to the loading
and transportation of the mineral for domestic consumption.
The average daily loading of the
ore by the zonal railway that handles the bulk of the mineral in the State
dropped sharply, from more than 50 rakes to around 30 rakes or so.
The reason: Many mine-owners were
apprehensive of action by the visiting eight-member Commission , more so
because the members expressed unhappiness on visiting some mines, and ensured
that there was no movement of the ore from the pitheads to the railheads.
The worst hit were the sponge
iron units and mini steel plants depending on supplies from the traders. The
spokesman of an east coast port also complained that the port did not handle a
single export rake so far this month. However, the integrated steel plants,
mostly having captive mines with firm allocation of rakes by the Railways, were
the least affected.
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