Production, supply from Talcher Coalfields hit for 10th day

Production and supply from Talcher Coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) was hit for the 10th day on Friday, owing to an agitation by locals backed by political parties after four workers died in a mishap at a mine last week.

Though BJP activists withdrew its strike after talks with the administration and MCL authorities on Wednesday, villagers backed by BJD leaders then initiated stoppage of work, stalling operations at all mines in Talcher Coalfields in Angul district.

Subsequently, members of Talcher Suraksha Parishad, a social outfit, submitted a set of demands which included compensation of Rs 3 crore each to the family of the deceased and a permanent job to the deceased nominee, an MCL spokesperson said.

Four workers were killed and nine others injured in the mishap at Bharatpur mine on July 23, triggering protests by political parties and locals. BJP activists had first launched an agitation demanding a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for families of each deceased.

Coal miners have been asked to resume operations and the company has also taken up the issue with the state authorities, the spokesperson said.

The closure of the mines has not only incurred huge losses to the company, the state and central exchequer, but also affected the income of 15,000 workers of MCL and 12,000 contractual workers, he claimed.

"The entire blockade has impacted the earnings of over 40,000 families of Talcher," the spokesperson said.

The shut down since July 24 has resulted in coal production loss of 16.84 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 170.96 crore and 19.32 lakh tonnes of despatch, he added.

MCL has announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased, the spokesperson said.

The state government has also provided Rs five lakh ex-gratia each to the families of the victims.