MCL hopes to reopen Kulda coal mines today after 'dump collapse'

Kulda open cast mines, in Belpahar area of Sundergarh district, has a production capacity of 10 million tonne per year

Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) expects to reopen Kulda coal mines today as discussions with irated villagers is approaching an amicable solution, a senior official said.

“Discussion with the villagers is going on. We hope the work should start by today evening,” said A K Tiwari, technical director with MCL.

Kulda open cast mines, situated in Belpahar area of Sundergarh district, has a production capacity of 10 million tonne per year.

The mines has been shut down since August 10, when 14 persons were killed due to dump heap collapse while collecting the coal mines waste.

At least 10 persons were found dead and five injured immediately after the collapse. The rescue team recovered four more bodies in subsequent days , and had said it was possible more people were trapped inside the dump heap. Villagers near the mine area have been protesting against the resumption of mines operation demanding recovery of two more bodies.

Both the state government and MCL authorities have announced ex-gratia amount totalling Rs 5 lakh per person dead in the coal mines accident.

However, the villagers with the backing of a couple of political parties, have been demanding Rs 25 lakh compensation per person. Their other demand include job to one person of demised people and displacement to a safer area.

The killing of the coal waste collectors had affected the production and dispatch of entire Basundhara-Garjanbahal coal mines region of MCL with a production capacity of nearly 40,000 tonne a day.

On Tuesday, the company started the Basundhara coal mines, situated three kilometres away from Kulda, after consultation with local leaders and truck association members.

Though the villagers have opposed the reopening of Basundhara mines while the discussion was still on, the MCL said it has not faced any opposition and the mining work will not be interrupted.

Basundhara west coal mines is one of the biggest open pit coal mine of Asia and produces nearly 20,000 tonne coal per day while production from Kulda mine is around 5,000 tonne every day.