Operations at MCL's Balram mine disrupted for 14th day

The mining operations at Balram open cast project (OCP) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) remained paralysed for 14th consecutive day on Thursday as villagers at Talcher colliery in Odisha continued to agitate over local issues, officials said.

Though a series of initiatives has been taken by the civil administration and MCL management, there is "no success" in resolving the issues between Solada and Danara villagers who have "forcibly stopped" mining operations at Balram OCP, they said.

"So far, 2.2 lakh tonne coal supply, around 1.8 lakh tonne coal production and more than 4 lakh cubic metre of over burden removal have been affected from Balram OCP due to the internal rift of the villagers," an MCL spokesperson said.

While production from other coal mines under MCL have picked up after the rainy season, the mining activities at Balram OCP, having a target of six million tonne coal production for 2019-20, have been disrupted due to the agitation.

Coal India's subsidiary, MCL said that it was optimistic over an "amicable solution" to the impasse so that further losses to various stakeholders, including the government's exchequer, are arrested.