Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ today, 25 May 2025, mentioned Katejhari village in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where a bus has reached for the first time. This is the same district that can make India the world’s second largest iron ore producer. Here JSW Group has announced the world’s largest steel plant in February 2025. Its capacity will be 25 million tonnes. In this story, we will know how the high quality iron ore of Gadchiroli will increase India’s steel production capacity, and reduce dependence on imports… Question 1. How did iron ore mining start in Gadchiroli? Answer: Iron ore was first discovered here by Jamsetji Tata in the 1900s. However, due to the lack of coking coal at that time, Tata chose Jamshedpur. Mining activities could not start in Gadchiroli due to Maoist influence, but five years ago Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) started mining here for the first time. LMEL has iron ore reserves of 1 billion tonnes. Now companies like JSW and Surajgarh Steel are also investing in this sector. Question 2. What is the status of iron ore mining in Gadchiroli? Answer: Gadchiroli, a district in Maharashtra, is known for its dense forests and Maoist influence. However, now the Maoist influence has reduced here and this district is now becoming a major center of iron ore mining. Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) has recently received forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment on May 23, 2025 to set up an iron ore plant on 937 hectares. Apart from this, JSW Group has announced to build the world’s largest steel plant (25 million tonnes capacity) in Gadchiroli in February 2025. The project will entail an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore, and it will be completed in seven years. The first phase will be ready in four years. Question 3. How will mining in Gadchiroli benefit the Indian economy? Answer: Gadchiroli’s high quality iron ore (64% realisation) can help India become the world’s second-largest iron ore producer. It will increase India’s steel production capacity, reducing dependence on imports. High quality iron ore reduces the need for coking coal. India’s iron ore production is projected to grow by 3% to 182.6 million tonnes in 2024-25. Mining in Gadchiroli will create thousands of jobs and further consolidate India’s recent achievement of overtaking Japan to become the fourth-largest economy. Question 4. What infrastructure projects are underway in the region? Answer: LMEL commissioned an 85-km-long iron ore slurry pipeline on May 1, 2025, which will carry 30,000 tonnes of ore per day from Surajgarh to Konsari village. In addition, a pellet-making unit will also be commissioned by June 2025. After the completion of these three projects, the total steel production capacity of Gadchiroli will be 33 million tonnes, making it a major steel hub of India. Question 5. What steps have been taken to overcome the shortage of skilled labor? Answer: Gondwana University (GU) has signed an agreement with Australia’s Curtin University on May 7, 2025. Under this, three-year diploma courses in mining will start from July 2025. This course has been jointly designed by GU, Curtin, and LMEL, to train local youth for the mining industry. Question 6. How will Gadchiroli’s mining sector develop in the future? Answer: If safety and environmental challenges are addressed, Gadchiroli can become a major steel hub. JSW’s plant and other projects can take the district’s total steel capacity to 33 million tonnes. This will help India become the third largest economy by 2028.
