ANGUL: Production and despatch of coal in the mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) at Talcher and Jharsuguda came to a grinding halt with thousands of workers going on a five-day strike from Tuesday.
The trade unions of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS), Hind Majdoor Sangh (HMS) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) have called the strike across all mines under the Coal India Limited (CIL) opposing the Government’s coal block ordinance, which may allow private companies to mine and sell coal commercially.
At Talcher, the offices of MCL were also closed. The MCL Officers’ Association has extended moral support to the strike.
About 45,000 workers of MCL mines in Talcher have joined the strike. Workers, led by their leaders, picketed in front of the mines and offices of all general managers here.
Sources said MCL produces around 3.75 lakh tonne of coal per day out of which the share of Talcher coalfield stands at 2.4 lakh tonne. The coalfield despatches about 3.8 lakh tonne of coal daily to the power stations located in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana and West Bengal besides Odisha.
MCL Director AK Tiwari said though production and despatch was affected on the day, some quantity of coal could be transported before the strike began.
Regarding supply of coal to NTPC-Kaniha, from where power is evacuated to 15 States, Tiwari said the stock at the power plant is comfortable.
Sources in Nalco said the company has sufficient stock to manage for two days but it may face trouble if the strike extends.
Meanwhile, Souvagya Pradhan, coordinator of MCL Workers’ Trade Unions said, “We will hold demonstrations at MCL’s corporate office at Burla on Wednesday demanding scrapping of the controversial ordinance which is meant to kill Coal India Limited, the largest coal company in the world, and stop on loading further share from CIL.”
Jharsuguda Workers Join Stir
Jharsuguda: More than 14,000 permanent and contractual workers of five opencast and three underground mines of Lakhanpur, Ib Valley and Orient Area of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Brajrajnagar also went on strike from Tuesday morning. Sources said, Lakhanpur mines produces on an average 60,000 tonne of coal daily, while Ib Valley and Orient area of MCL produce 42,000 and 4,000 tonne respectively with the help of permanent and contractual workers.