Lloyds suspends mining ops in Gadchiroli once again

Nagpur: Lloyds Metal and Energy Limited (LMEL), the lone big unit in Maoist-hit Gadhciroli district, has once again suspended operations after last week’s accident which left four persons dead.
A truck heading towards the company’s mines at Surjagargh area of the district rammed into a state transport bus on the way killing four of the passengers.

This led to a violent reaction from local villagers, who allegedly burned down 15 other vehicles belonging to the company. LMEL is engaged in mining of iron ore since the last three years from Surjagargh area which has rich deposits. However, the work has come to a halt from time to time due to different reasons.

A couple of years ago, Maoists allegedly burned down 76 trucks following which work had come to a standstill.

Once again on January 16, the company’s trucks were torched. The authorities have so far ruled out the role of Maoits. However, sources said the incident appeared to be a well-planned action. A complaint has been lodged and the work has been stopped, said a source.

Even the state government is banking on LMEL’s mine for industrial development of the backward district. The company has been allotted separate land in the district for starting a sponge iron plant. The proposed unit would source raw material from the mines at Surjagargh.

But even in the normal course, evacuation of minerals takes place only when a road opening party of the police is available. Due to this, it could happen only for 48 days in the entire 2018. This comes to not more than 4 days in a month.

Even in January, it was just the fourth day of work when the accident took place. During the last year, around 1.5 lakh tonnes of ore was extracted, which is far below the requirement, said the source. The company employees 350 to 500 local workers on a daily basis at the mine.

Sources said what appears suspicious is that the locals attacked nearly a couple of hours after the mishap and torched the trucks which were trailing the vehicle. The crowd came up with containers of kerosene to burn the vehicle. Going by the scene, it appeared that they had prepared well for the attack, said a source.

District collector Shekhar Singh confirmed that there was a temporary stoppage in work. The decision was taken on the basis of mutual understanding by the company and the district administration that the work would be put on hold. This was considering the local opposition.

On the security, an official said that the road opening party is present along the stretch and cannot constantly shadow the vehicles. Moreover, the locals were in big numbers when they attacked.