The recent order of the Joda mining circle office to 10 miners, who are waiting for renewal of their mining leases, to restrict iron ore output only to the extent of their captive plant need until the completion of the lease renewal process, is likely to result in 27 million tonne (mt) production loss per year, trade estimates said.

The order follows a recent state government resolution that mines having value addition industry attached to it will be given priority at the time of renewal of mining leases.

Kalindi worked in a betel vine plantation for his living. But this and 641 others were pulled down by the authorities between May and September last year, to facilitate land acquisition for the project. The owners of the vines got compensation. But workers like Kalindi were left in the lurch. Every morning, he looks for odd jobs, sometimes far away from his village, to maintain his family of five.