Scared Nalco workers being goaded to return

The company says there will be no impact on the overall operations.

Even as aluminium maker Nalco plans to restart operations at its Panchpatmali bauxite mines in Koraput district tomorrow, the employees stay too scared to go back to work.

The company, however, said two days of no work at the mines following the Naxalites’ attack will not affect the overall operations of the company; it will only have a “demoralising effect” on employees.

“We are ready to restart operations, but it all depends on getting back the people to work,” said a top executive of the company. He said discussions were on with employees and the workers’ union.

There are about 400 employees working on these mines of which 100 were trapped inside when the Naxalites laid siege to the property. The siege ended yesterday after an eight-hour gunbattle.

The security forces, meanwhile, cleared the mines area for start of operations and the company officials checked the equipment and machinery.

“Fortunately, there is no damage to the equipment,” he said, adding, “but the incident has left a psychological scar on the employees and they feel scared.”

The ultras did not harm employees, but held them captive for over eight hours on Sunday night. There was heavy exchange of fire between the Central Industrial Security Force deployed at the mines and the Naxals, which left 14 dead.

This has left a deep impact on the psyche of the employees and it will take time to heal, said CR Pradhan, chairman and managing director of Nalco.

The mines produce 12,000-15,000 tonnes of bauxite every day. The bauxite is refined at Nalco’s alumina refinery in Damanjodi, about 15 km from the mines.

“We have 30 days’ bauxite stock at the refinery. So two days’ stop will not affect operations,” Pradhan said.