Mining operations continue to remain affected in Odisha

Mining operations continued to remain paralysed at Talcher Coalfield of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) in Odisha, an official said on Thursday.

Workers of a private firm engaged in two mines have obstructed coal production while operations in another open cast project (OCP) remained paralysed for the eighth day, said a MCL statement.

Workers of the private firm resorted to stoppage of coal production at Kaniha and Lingaraj mines, affecting at least 16,800 tonne coal production a day at Lingaraj OCP and about 18,000 tonne a day at Kaniha OCP, the statement said.

While Kaniha OCP continued to remain paralysed, workers of the private firm concerned at Lingaraj OCP called off their stir on Thursday afternoon and started to resume work.

Since the workers had left due to the agitation, the full-fledged operations by the contracted firm will take some time, it said.

Meanwhile, stoppage of mining operations at Balram OCP by Danara villagers entered eighth day.

Coal despatch at Balram OCP was forcibly stopped by the villagers on October 6, while they stopped overburden removal at Mahalakshmi patch on October 10 and coal production from the mine was stopped from second shift on October 12.

"Overburden removal of about 30,000 cubic metres a day, 10,000 tonnes of coal production and equal quantity of coal despatch to consumers, including NALCO, JITPL, JSPL, BSL and GMR, has been affected at Balram OCP of MCL," the MCL said.

Up till now, 1,20,000 tonne coal supply, around 50,000 tonne coal production and more than 2.2 lakh cubic metre of overburden removal has been affected from Balram OCP due to the internal rift of residents of Danara and Solada villages, it said.

( With inputs from IANS )