“Steel Industry is facing difficulties in iron ore supply as iron ore price has gone up by about 100 per cent” said Mr Naveen Jindal, chairman of JSPL while noting that except three steel companies all other have become insolvent and gone to NCLT. If iron ore prices are not brought down, the remaining three companies will be impacted too, he said.

Mr Jindal urged upon Odisha government to take up the matter with the centre and reopen closed iron ore mines. Jindal felt that an ordinance or some other such measure ought to be taken to boost iron ore production. The JSPL chief met Chief Secretary A P Padhi and Industries Secretary Sanjeev Chopra here on Thursday.

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Closure of iron ore mines and the increase in iron ore price has affected steel industry in Odisha. The steel industry in Odisha is importing coal and limestone. “If iron ore is to be imported then steel industry in Odisha will not survive,” he added. “JSPL has invested more than Rs. 33000 Crore at Angul. If we won’t get iron ore at affordable price, how will the company become competitive and give the thousands of jobs that has been created?,” he said while talking to media persons.

If iron ore mines become operational, lakhs of people will get employment, Odisha government will also get royalty and fund in DMF. So it is very important to make the closed iron ore mines operational as soon as possible, he said. He also demanded for increasing availability of railway rakes for transfer of raw material for industries.

“We are not able to run the plant in full capacity because of unavailability or railway rakes. Steps should be taken to make improve railway rakes availability,” he demanded. Similarly he also demanded for increasing coal production by MCL to make coal available for power generation.

The Chief Secretary assured him to examine the issues as the possible course of actions like promulgating ordinance is the central government job. However, the representation from steel industry and mine association can be examined to be taken up with GOI necessary action, he informed. Mr. Naveen Jindal also met Minister for Mines and Steel Prafulla Kumar Mallik.