NMDC's new mine project put on hold in Chhattisgarh after protests

The project was mired in controversy as thousands of tribals resorted to indefinite strike in NMDC's Bacheli-Kirandul complexes on Friday

Chhattisgarh government has stalled the work of developing Bailadila iron-ore deposit that was allotted to state-run National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in state’s restive Dantewada district.

The development comes after thousands of tribals resorted to an indefinite strike in NMDC’s Bacheli-Kirandul complexes on Friday, under the banner of Sanyukta Panchayat Samiti. They objected to mining in the hill (reserve) that houses their deity.

The agitators blocked the check-post of NMDC and denied entry to its employees, badly hitting the company’s production in the last five days. NMDC operates two complexes with a capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa)