Normalcy returns coalfield area, workers return to MCL mines

With the Angul district administration lifting prohibitory order from all areas except Jagannath colliery, the site of violence on Friday, the authorities at Mahanadi coalfield are optimistic about resuming production at all the coal mines.
As normalcy is gradually returning to the coalfield area after release of Talcher MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan from jail, the workers reported at duty today at different MCL run mines.
Production work at MCL, which used to produce 200,000 tonne of coal every day from seven open cast mines in Talcher area, suffered as the workers kept away from the coal mines in view of the violence on Friday.

"Now, the workers have returned and lorries are ready to lift coal," said Angul collector Ranjit Mohanty.
He said the coal supply to the NTPC's Kanhia and Talcher Thermal power stations, Nalco and other companies Captive Power Plants was likely to be resumed from tomorrow.
However, the quantum of power generation in the day remained within 1100 MW against the capacity of 3,000 MW at NTPC's Kanhia power plant.
As power production was hit at NTPC's power plant, many southern states suffered though Odisha managed with availability of hydro-power. Odisha which used to get 500 MW of power from NTPC, it presently availed only 250 MW of electricity, sources said.

Sources said that a new contractor had taken over coal loading and other activities at two railway sidings and was using local workers. The workers had earlier protested against the contractor.