Plant disinvestment: Maoists call for stir

RAIPUR: Maoists have called for an agitation against the move for disinvestment of

National Mineral Development Corporation

(NMDC) steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar saying the move was aimed at handing over the region's natural wealth to corporates.

CPI (Maoist)

Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee

spokesman Vikalp sent an audio message to journalists alleging that it was an attempt to hand overNMDC project to powerful corporates, including those having base in Gujarat.

The Maoist leader called upon people of Bastar, political parties and other peoples' organisations to strongly resist the move for privatisation of the integrated steel plant, which is yet to be commissioned and start production. NMDC, country's largest iron ore miner, is setting up a three million tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar. In June this year, an environment ministry panel gave clearance to a captive iron ore mine in Bastar for plant that is expected to start trial production by mid-2017.

State's opposition parties have already opposed the move for privatisation arguing that fifth schedule of the constitution is in force in tribal Bastar region and therefore land cannot be handed over to private companies. These parties said farmers of the region had handed over their land for setting up of steel plant and so it cannot be given to private players through backdoor. tnn