Nagpur, 28 May

(HS): Once posting at Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district was a sort of

punishment for any government and private employee. The scenario has changed

and is fast changing with the initiative at the centre and the state. During

the last five years Gadchiroli has changed, away from threats of Maoists and no

facilities into a Steel City of India.

The road network

with the help of the Border Road Organisation improved the connectivity and

also ensured safety of security personnel posted in remote areas in the

district. Systematic plan to end the Naxalite movement has materialised to

ensure safety to Forest Officials and suppliers of raw materials to industries

in adjoining areas. With rich and dense forest cover and abundant minerals

Gadchiroli could have been very important place for industries.

JRD Tata had

planned to start a steel plant in Gadchiroli, which was later shifted to

Tatanagar, for want of transportation facilities in Gadchiroli. With the

development of road network and elimination of Naxalite activities, Lloyd

Minerals started the largest single location iron ore plant in Sujagarh in

Gachiroli, with government’s full support. The project is the largest in India,

and probably in Asia, projected to mine 55 Million Tonnes Per Annum. The

present mining operation is up to 10 Million Tonnes Per Annum, including

hematite and bonded hematite quartzite.

Gadchiroli with

75 per cent of geographical area covered by dense forest, spanning over 1.1

million hectares, is also known for its biodiversity. With this forest cover Gadchiroli

is rightly called the lungs of Maharashtra State. Rich in tribal heritage the

district has Madia and Gond tribes as its natives, and has diverse wildlife.

This is the only

district in Maharashtra which does not have operational direct railway line

running through it. Initially a part of Gond Dynasty of Khandkya Ballarsha, the

district was carved out from Chandrapur District in 1982. A major attraction,

besides dense forest, is beautiful Markanda Dev Temple built and developed from

8th to 13th century and is termed as Khajurao of the

Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

Entry of Lloyd

Minerals was conditional for not damaging the eco-system. It is set to become

the first certified green mining project using battery-operated heavy

equipment, LNG-powered vehicles and renewable energy to minimise carbon

footprints.

Community Impact

Local tribal

community is being trained through skill development programme, so that

sufficient work force could be hired.

A 30bed hospital

with modern facilities was constructed.

Solar

electricity and road augmentation worked out.

Ecological

restoration by plantation against trees that were removed was announced.

Initial

opposition to the project due to tree-felling, and possible damage to

environment and wildlife has calmed down after the government declaring ten

times plantation against the trees cut for the project.

Transport

The villages

which had not seen state transport bus during the last 65 years of formation of

united Maharashtra State are celebrating connectivity through state-operated

transport network.

Still many

villages are isolated during monsoon. Efforts are going on to connect those

villages through roads and bridges over rivers and rivulets.

A proposal to

develop an airport in Gadchiroli has been mooted to attract investment in the

most backward district of Maharashtra – Gadchiroli.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar