New Delhi, Feb 11: The Union Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ram Vilas Paswan, has asked the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to expedite the complementation of its activities under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The NMDC has produced 20.1 million tonnes of iron-ore during April-December 2007, recording a growth of 12.5 per cent.

NMDC also surpassed the target set in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by 6 per cent. It has sold 19.86 million tonnes of iron ore during first nine months of Financial Year 08 as against 17.49 million tonnes during the same period in Financial Year 07. During the period the company earned net profit of Rs. 22.34 billion compared to Rs. 16.09 billion during the previous year.

While making a presentation at the performance review meeting, chaired by Paswan, the NMDC Chairman Rana Som said that transport bottlenecks and threats from Maoists has led to shortfall in the dispatch of iron ore.

Som also said that the company would set up an investigation and exploration centre at Raipur. The centre will assist the State Governments for free in mineral exploration activities.

He added that recruitment for the centre has already started.

Complimenting NMDC for getting ‘Navratna’ status and continued excellent performance, Paswan said, it should complete all its expansion projects in a time bound manner.

Paswan also assured NMDC that he would take up the issue of availability of railway rakes with the concerned Ministry. (ANI)