According to media reports, the on going protests and demonstrations against the Railways have halted the iron ore shipment. This has caused a loss of INR 60 crore so far. The protest entered its ninth day on Saturday.

The ores were supplied from the mines in Dantewada. India’s largest private sector iron ore producer NMDC supplies 40,000 tonnes of ores daily on an average through the rail rakes.

The protests began on January 13 after Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha the youth wing of the BJP, demanded better railway connectivity in the region. Bastar is an under developed region covered with forest. There is a stronghold of Maoists since late 1980s in Bastar.

According to media reports, BJYM leaders have claimed that the railway ministry has taken note of the protest. The ministry has also asked a delegation of the protesters to go to New Delhi for talks.

(Sourced from Dailybhaskar.com)