Red terror poses biggest challenge on new minister from Chhattisgarh

Most of the mines remain unexplored in the Naxal heartland in steel & mines minister's home state

The red terror would be the biggest challenge for the newly appointed minister of state for steel, mines and labour Vishnu Deo Sai representing Chhattisgarh in the Narendra Modi cabinet.

Sai is the only member from the state to get a berth in the union cabinet. The portfolio allocated to him would be full of challenged at least in his home state of Chhattisgarh. For, the rebels had severely affected the mining operations in Bastar that had been endowed with world-class iron ore deposits.

"When it would come to deliver in his own state, Sai would have multiple challenges," said a political commentator. The corporate felt that the minister should take the initiative in coordination with the union ministry of home to start the industrial activities in red zone.

In Bastar, country's prominent corporate including Tata Steel, Essar, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) besides other small industrial houses had been allotted iron ore mines. None of the company could dare to start the work in the area following open threat from the Naxalites.

Set aside mining, many companies could not even complete even the prospecting of the mines. "It would be a big achievement for Sai in Chhattisgarh if he succeeded in helping the industry that would facilitate setting up plant in the state," said a senior executive for a company.The expansion and modernization project in Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) would also see a fillip with the minister of the department hailing from the same state. The Rs 17200-crore modernization and expansion plan of BSP that would enhance the crude steel production capacity from 5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 7 mtpa started in February 2008.

The expansion project was supposed to be completed well before. According to BSP officials, the minister would now have a direct supervision that would help clearing hurdles coming in its way to complete the project.