Two days after the clash between police and workers of coal transport companies at Jurabaga under Belpahar police limits in the district, coal transportation was partially restored on Monday. The incident had severely affected coal supply to OPGC from Lakhanpur area of MCL and one unit of the plant had to be closed down.
Collector Niranjan Sahu and DIG (NR) Sanjay Kumar visited Lakhanpur area on Monday and held a meeting over OPGC’s coal crisis.
Since Saturday, around 900 truck drivers and cleaners working for six private agencies which have been transporting coal from MCL were staging a demonstration demanding hike in wages. These agencies - Sainik Allied and Mining Services, Lakhanpur Coal Carrier, Garuda Coal Carrier, Sarbada Coal Transport and Sumitra Logistics Pvt Ltd and R & P Transports - were transporting coal from MCL’s Samleshwari, Belpahar open cast projects and Lakhanpur open cast mines.
BN Jha, CGM of MCL (Lakhanpur) had alerted the district administration about the strike and resultant effect on coal transportation to OPGC.
A meeting was held between Jha, Collector Sahu and DIG (NR) Kumar and Col Samay Singh, Director of Sainik Allied & Mining Pvt Ltd where it was decided to start transportation of 10,000 tonnes of coal from Monday evening to OPGC. Sixty tippers were immediately pressed into service for the purpose.
Former MP and president of Odisha Coal Majdoor Sangh Sriballava Panigrahi had also visited Jurabaga on Sunday and held discussion with Jha and the Collector on the issue.
Panigrahi demanded a high-level police inquiry into the incident. Jha said due to the incident, MCL sustained a loss of 1,10,000 tonnes of coal till Monday evening.
In a clash between police and workers of coal transport companies at Jurabaga, two agitators were killed in police firing on Saturday. Thirteen others including three police personnel were injured in the clash and subsequent police firing.
The workers were on strike near the Sainik Allied & Mining Services camp at Jurabaga and the incident took place after the labourers allegedly attacked the camp office and tried to set it on fire. Sources said the protesters suddenly turned violent as negotiation for their pay hike failed and also pelted stones at the police deployed at the site.
As a precautionary measure when police opened fire, two were killed. They were Avinash Soren of Purulia, West Bengal and Gopinath Hembram of Mayurbhanj, both drivers.
FOLLOW-UP
As truck drivers and cleaners of six private agencies staged stir since Saturday over wage hike, coal transportation to OPGC was severely affected
One of the units of OPGC had to be closed down as a result
It was decided on Monday to start transportation of 10,000 tonees of coal to OPGC
