Maoists disrupt NMDC's iron ore shipment

Transport of iron-ore from the country's biggest producer and exporter, the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), was crippled as Maoists guerrillas damaged rail tracks as part of their two-day economic blockade in the state that started today.

"Not a single rake left from the two NDMC projects," a senior executive of the company told Business Standard.

The NMDC manages two projects in Bailadilla iron-ore mines and despatches more than a dozen rakes every day to the Visakhapatnam port for export.

Train traffic on the Bailadilla-Visakhapatnam section came to a halt yesterday evening itself when rebels damaged tracks at different places.

Sources said transportation would remain suspended on Wednesday""the second and last day of the economic blockade called by the radical group to protest against special economic zones and the economic policies of the central and state governments.

The NMDC had incurred heavy losses earlier in the month when work at its mining facilities was suspended for 11 days after rebels blew up three power transmission towers, plunging the entire Bastar region into darkness. Essar Steel "" that pumps iron-ore slurry to its Visakhapatnam plant from Dantewada "" also faced heavy losses.

However, no attack on industrial units was reported on the first day of the blockade. Near Bhansi, the rebels exploded a bomb, damaging over-head equipment (OHE) belonging to the railways, said R K Vij, inspector general of police, Bastar range. The railways will also incur losses due to the halt in transportation of iron ore.

Normal life was affected in the interior areas of Bastar region due to the blockade. While traders in small towns and villages kept their shutters down, transporters kept their vehicles off the roads.

The Maoists felled trees at different places to disrupt road communication.The situation was reported to be tense but under control.