Transport business badly hit

Ore transportation has come to a stand still and the automobile industry dependant on it has also been affected. These developments have in turn hurt the families of  workers engaged in ore transportation. After the Andhra Pradesh government initiated action, based on the suggestion made by the Central ECEC, constituted by the Supreme Court, three mines belonging to the OMC, one mine belonging to Anantapur Mining Company, Y Mahabaleshwarappa Mines and Bellary Iron Ore Company’s one mine have been closed since November 25.

Everyday, 70,000 tonnes of iron ore were transported from six mines in the Obulapuram region alone. Out of the total, 10,000 tonnes was transported to Jindal Iron and Steel Company Ltd and the remaining 60,000 tonnes was transported to  Krishnapattanam (Andhra Pradesh), Chennai and Bellikere ports, mine sources said.

To bring ore from atop the six mines to the collection yard alone 300 tippers had to make 500 trips everyday. Thus, nearly 700 to 800 lorries were dependant on six mines in the Obulapuram region in Andhra Pradesh alone. Lorry owners earned Rs 1,000 per tonne of ore transported from mines to  ports.  Considering this, the lorries amount for a total business of Rs 4 to 5 crore.