Bhubaneswar: Is mining magnate B. Prabhakaran shifting his mining business from Odisha?
Yes, that’s what believes many in mining industry in the State.
With the change in the government in Odisha, Prabhakaran, the most powerful mining operator in the State is now shifting his focus to other States.
Prabhakaran came to Odisha by the turn of this century and indulged in small time mining related business. Then he left for his State Tamil Nadu only to returned to Odisha again in 2004-05 with heavy earth moving machineries to take up raising contracts on behalf of mining lease holders. This time he came with the company Triveni Earthmovers. By the beging of 2010s, Prabhakaran’s legend was born when he bought over local long time operators. And the legeng grew rapidly when the power equation in Odisha changed following the futile coup attempt by Pyarimohan Mohapatra, a man Friday of the then chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
In the two decades that followed, it was Prabhakaran’s writ that was running large in the rich iron ore valley of Keonjhar district of the State. With the power that be at the State capital Bhibaneswar on his side and the district civil and police administration on tow, he was ruling roost in the iron ore belt.
With the abrupt end of Naveen Patnaink government after a long 24 years of uninterrupted rule, and BJP suddenly take over the reign of the State, power equations too changed in Keonjhar. Obviously, the powerfuls in the mining business in Koenjhar are at loss.
In the changed scenario, Prabhakaran is planning to venture into new pastures.
India Whispers eavesdropped that Prabhakaran is shifting his business focus from Odisha to Maharastra.
Prabhakaran has bagged the raising contract of Surajgarh Iron Ore Mines, the largest mines in Maharastra. Located in Wooria Hills of Naxal infested Gadchiroli district, Surajgarh promises a massive deposit of over 857 million tonnes of iron ore. Llyod Metals has lease over the mines till 2057.
