KalingaTV News Network
Jajpur: Thousands of labourers of Visa steel Plant on Monday staged a dharna at Biju Patnaik Marg, Kalinganagar here protesting against the plant authorities’ decision to shut the unit temporarily citing shortage of raw materials.
The plant was temporarily shut due to a halt in transport of raw materials, including iron ore and chromite, allegedly by contractors backed by the ruling BJD. Eventually, the plant authorities sent notice to the labourers to cease work from today.
Despite permission to have 5500 MTs iron ore and 3700 MT chromite, the raw materials were not being transported to the plant due to a dispute between the plant authorities and transport contractors, alleged a VISA plant employee.
A meeting, attended by Sukinda legislator Priti Ranjan Ghadai, District Collector, Plant authorities, a delegation of transport contractors and members of Kalinganagar labour union, held on Friday failed to resolve the dispute.
As of now , the blast furnace, steel melt shop (SMS), rolling mill, DRI and Ferro chrome plant under the Visa steel plant have been shut due to shortage of iron ore and chromite. With the move, 3200 employees working under the contractors will lose their employment.
Meanwhile, two platoons of police have been deployed in the spot to prevent any untoward incident.
Ms Kalinga