Operations At 10 MCL Coal Mines Hit By BJP Strike In Odisha

Talcher: The on-going agitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has heavily affected mining activities of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), one of the largest coal producing companies in the country.

According to reports, coal lifting and transportation by road and rail from at least 10 mining sites of MCL have been hit by the saffron party’s strike, which has been called to protest the death of 3 persons in a landslide at a coal mine of the company in Angul.

Sources said that there's a production loss of around 3 lakh metric tonne at MCL due the agitation which is resulting in a revenue loss for State and central governments in terms of royalty.

BJP’s agitation has also disrupted power generation at the Kaniha-based National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC). The 3000 mw-capacity power plant needs 55,000 metric ton (MT) coal each day and though NTPC gets coal from other mines, it is not sufficient to meet its requirements. This has led to closure of NTPC’s three units for which the power generation has come down to 1000 mw stoking concerns.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the saffron party on July 25 launched its agitation following the landslide mishap at MCL’s Bharatpur Coal Mines on July 23. While four labourers were killed, at least 10 workers were injured in the landslide.

The agitating BJP workers are demanding security of labourers and employees engaged at MCL and implementation of new guidelines by the State government to curb such mishap in future.