Minister Kulaste visits Nandini mines

 

 

The Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste on Wednesday visited the Nandini limestone Mines of SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant. During his visit, the Minister was apprised about various measures and initiatives being taken by SAIL-BSP to further develop the mines. Minister Kulaste was welcomed at Nandini by Director In-charge Bhilai Steel Plant, Anirban Dasgupta. Present were Manas Biswas, ED (Mines and Rowghat); Dr S K Issar, ED (M and HS); Rakesh, ED (MM); S K Dubey, ED (PandA) and AK Panda, CGM I/c Finance. Minister Kulaste who was apprised about Nandini Mines gave necessary instructions about continuation of mining and increasing production. During his visit, Kulaste formally flagged-off a dumper loaded with limestone to signal the beginning of limestone transportation from black stone quarry that has been revived by Bhilai Steel Plant. It is worth mentioning that the black stone quarry at Nandini has been submerged under water for about twenty years. SAIL-BSP management took the initiative to revive mining from the submerged black stone quarry.

 

A ‘setu’ or bridge has been built with waste material in the quarry to divide it into A and B block. Water collected in B block has been emptied and same has been used to fill up ponds in nearby villages, making this block available for mining and paving the way for mining low-silica grade limestone. The grade of limestone thus obtained is similar to the limestone from SAIL’s Kuteshwar mines in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative would help meet the Plant’s requirement for superior grade limestone. During his visit today, Minister Kulaste formally flagged off the dumper loaded with limestone obtained from B block of this quarry to signal the beginning of limestone transportation. Present were senior officers of the Plant from Nandini and other departments.