Centre in favour of reopening closed mines in Odisha

ROURKELA (ODISHA): Pointing out that mining activities provide employemnt to a large number of people, Union Minister of State for Steel and Mines Vishnu Deo Sai today said the mines should not remain closed for long time as it hits the people around it.

"Mining is a vital industry for the three neighbours of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Mining and steel industry were the backbone of these three states," he said while addressing a gathering at Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) here.

"Around 80 per cent mines and major steel industries are situated in these three states and I feel much development will come to these places through industrialisation," the Minister said.

Stating that closed mines in the state should open soon, the minister said he was of the opinion that mining provides employment to a large population and should not remain closed for a long time. He felt that the government should reconsider and reopen the mines closed down in the state.

Referring to his visit to Bisral Lime Stone Company at Biramitrapur Sai said, "I saw that the company, which was once a flourishing one, was in dire straits and something should be done to bring it back on track."

The Minister, however, highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying: "Modiji wants to build a nation and just does not want to rule it."

Earlier the minister was handed over a memorandum by the RCCI which highlighted some of the major problems being faced by the industrialists in the region.