“We have heard that due to shortage of iron ore, the company wants to shut down its pig iron plants. This will adversely affect the workers in the company who are already facing a tough time. Iron ore mining in Goa is scheduled to resume only post monsoons,” said Sesa Goa Workers Union General Secretary Ramesh Sinari.
“We may lose our jobs if the government continues to delay the e-auctioning of ore. The company does not have adequate iron ore to run its pig iron plants which may force Vedanta to shut down blast furnaces thereby having direct impact on all employees in these plants,” said Sinari.
Vedanta Resources, formerly known as Sesa Sterlite Ltd, had recently stated that it would have to shut down its pig iron plants in the coming month if iron ore e-auctions are not conducted regularly.
Vedanta’s iron ore business division has seen its production come to a standstill for over two and half years, and several of its employees have been affected due to the suspension of mining activities in the State.
“We urge the CM to look into our grievances and start the e-auction process of iron ore and put our apprehensions to rest,” Sinari said.
Vedanta has had to rely on e-auctions of iron ore, which the department of mines and geology conducts, to obtain raw material for its plants in Amona due to suspension of iron mining activities in Goa since 2012.
