The entire Talcher coalfield which feeds coal to several states in the country has been paralyzed due to indefinite strike by contractual workers deployed in production and power plants in Southern states of the country may face fuel shortage. Coal production and dispatch came to a grinding halt on Monday.

While apprehending problems by power plants in several states, MCL sources termed the strike as uncalled for. Coal supply to two NTPC power plants and Nalco captive plant also has been hit due to strike.

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According to MCL official source, the coal company lost one day production of 2.3 lakh tonne. MCL official sources said that besides production loss, the company incurs a financial loss of about Rs 20.6 crore and state government in form of royalty losses at Rs 14.6 crores per day. Similarly, the central government also sustains financial loss of Rs One crore.

In Talcher coalfield there are more than 15000 contractual workers engaged in coal production, dispatch, maintenance and in other key sectors.

In a memorandum addressed to the Governor, the contractual workers association secretary Narahari Sahu and local BJD MLA Braj Kishore Pradhan listed six point charter of demand for the fulfillment.

These are hike in daily wages, medical facilities, Biometric cards system, the reinstatement of retrenched 131 contractual workers, skill development training and 25 per cent reservation in English medium schools of MCL.

They said about 88 per cent coal production are done by these contractual workers. The memorandum was submitted to Talcher sub collector.

Talcher sub collector Paresh Nayak said “Talcher coalfield on Monday was stalled because of strike by contractual workers. There was a meeting yesterday wherein the issues were discussed. It was agreed not to resort to strike but they went on a strike. We are trying to end the stalemate”.

The Director Personnel of MCL LN Mishra also expressed his surprise over the strike stating, “Everything was discussed yesterday threadbare• and there•was no need to resort strike on Monday. The company and state government are•sustaining losses due to strike. MCL is aware of all demands and concern of its contractual workers”.

Around 6,000 contractors’ worker in coal mining and transportation works went on a strike•paralysing supplies to the consumers, which has a majority of power producers. The strike was instigated after a meeting held yesterday at Jagannath Area headquarters on 5 Point agenda items given by Narahari Sahoo, General Secretary, Mahanadi Coalfields Contractual Transport Workers Union (MCCTWU), Talcher.

The meeting, which was attended by Director (Personnel) himself along with Area General Managers and other officials of Talcher Coalfields from Management side and the MLA, Talcher along with members of the MCCTWU, concluded on a happy note after the management agreed to all the points but one which was not legally feasible.

The management had not agreed on the demand of deployment of 131 contractors’ employees at (Railway) Sidings No. III & IV of Jagannath Area as the Siding operations are being carried out departmentally and there is no scope of reverting back to contractual mode of operations.

This was discussed at the level of Chief Secretary in the past and MCL management had categorically expressed its inability to engage contractors’ workers as the siding was already operating departmentally.

However, the MCL management had agreed to the demands related to the welfare of contractors’ workers engaged in the company, like providing them medical treatment in company’s hospitals and dispensaries, skill development programmes run by Government of India, education for children of contractors’ workers in MCL-run DAV schools and enhanced rate of HPC (high power committee) wages to contractors’ workers.

Everyone agreed at the meeting and the note of the discussions were circulated as accepted by the local MLA.

However, two hours after the meeting, the MLA B K Pradhan conveyed that the note circulated was not acceptable as it did not have the signature of the director (personnel) of the company.

On this ground, stoppage of all the contractual operation of mining/transportation of coal in all the Areas of Talcher Coalfields was resorted to, lamented the MCL.

The work stoppage on Monday resulted in coal production loss of 2.3 lakh tonne and despatch loss of 2.6 lakh tonne from Talcher Coalfields, which is likely have a negative impact on coal consumers, particularly power plants in southern states, including Odisha.