Regional parties to face workers' ire over Coal Bill: Union

A workers' union today said regional parties in coal producing states will have to "bear the brunt of coal workers and public for supporting" the Coal Bill, which has been passed by Parliament.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 which forms part of NDA government's reforms agenda, was passed by Parliament yesterday.
"The regional parties from coal producing states... Will have to bear the brunt of coal workers and public for supporting the Bill which essentially amends the Coal Mines Nationalization Act, 1973... Thereby opening up Indian and foreign private companies for commercial mining," the Indian National Mineworkers' Federation said in a statement.

The five coal unions are determined to discharge their role of being a watchdog and would continue to educate workers in Coal India and Singareni Collieries as also general public to remain vigilant and aggressively combat the ill-effects of commercial mining by Indian and foreign private companies, it added.
The statement said that the unions will also continue to protect and promote the interest of captive/commercial coal workers.