Ore woes put future of IMFA’s Odisha plant in doubt

Reported by Ranjan Rath
Rayagada, Apr 25:

Closure of chromite mines in Sukinda in Jajpur district and Boula and Nuasahi in Keonjhar district of Odisha since April last year has put the future of the ferro alloys plant of the Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) Ltd at Therubali in Rayagada district and Choudwar in Cuttack district in serious doubt.

Due to unavailability of raw materials, the company has shut down two units of its plant at Therubali and two units at Choudwar. Only one unit is running in each of the two plants.

The possibility of total closure of the plant cannot be ruled out if the raw materials are not available in the next two weeks, sources said.

While plant officials at Therubali refused to comment on the ongoing situation in the plant, president of IMFA Workers’ Union Pradip Kumar Mishra said there is possibility of about 8000 workers losing their jobs directly or indirectly while about 10,000 families working in the mines are likely to lose their livelihood.

In a letter to the chief minister, Mishra has sought his immediate intervention and urged him to take necessary measures for reopening of the closed mines at the earliest.