Coal dispatch by CIL up at 131 MT in April-July

Dispatch of coal by CIL to the power sector went up 1.1 per cent to 131.1 million tonnes (MT) in the April-July period of this fiscal even as the PSU workers announced to go on a nationwide day-long strike next week.

The dispatch by Coal India (CIL) in the corresponding period of last financial year was 129.6 MT, according to official data.

Last month, the figure stood at 31.4 MT, up 1.7 per cent compared to the same month a year ago.

However, the dispatch of fossil fuel by Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) during April-July period declined by 1.6 per cent to 15.150 MT, over 15.390 MT in the same period of previous financial year, the data said.

According to experts, the increase in coal dispatch has been on account of various reasons like rise in coal production by CIL, improvement in evacuation and opening up of new mines.

The government is eyeing 1.5 billion tonnes of coal production by 2020. Of this, CIL — which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production — is looking at an output of one billion tonnes.

With CIL having around 42 MT of coal at its pithead and power plants in possession of comfortable fossil fuel stock, the proposed strike by coal workers is likely to have a limited direct impact.

Trade unions will go on a nationwide stir on September 2 to press for their various demands.

Last week, CIL had told exchanges: "We have received a communication of notice... For strike on September 2. Efforts are being made for conciliation process."

In September last year, a majority of about 4 lakh coal workers across the country had gone on strike called by trade unions, which hit the production level in a big way.

The strike call was given by major trade unions such as INTUC, AITUC and CITU to pitch for their demands that included opposition to any further stake sale in Coal India.

Nearly 5 lakh bank union workers and officers are set to join the strike to protest against what they call "anti-people policies of the Modi government and labour reforms".