Talcher coalfields restarts after losing 2.5 lakh tonne coal production supply to local unrest

New Delhi: At least 2.5 lakh tonne coal production and supply to consumers was lost from Talcher coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) due to stoppage of operations by the supporters of the local MLA, demanding benefits from company beyond the extent of Government of Odisha’s R&R Policy-2006.

 

Mining operations at all the projects in Talcher coalfields were forcibly stopped by Hon’ble MLA’s supporters after an eviction drive was conducted at government land Naikshahi of Bhalugadia village, which was acquired by the company under CBA Act in year 2007.      

There were 41 families unauthorizedly living at Naikshahi of Bhalugadia, out of which 33 families were provided complete compensation package, including employment MCL, under R&R Policy-2006 of Odisha government against their tenancy land in Bhalugadia village.   

Remaining eight families were landless and occupying government land at Naikshahi which was acquired by MCL since 2007. However, MCL had sanctioned cost of structure and Rs 1.2 lakh as per Indira Awas Yojana for these landless occupant families, along with Rs one lakh as relocation assistance.With rising demand of coal from the industry and depletion of space to operate at Hingula opencast project necessitated possession of Naikshai of Bhalugadia village.

 

Many initiatives were taken by the company and district administration to take possession of the government land for coal mining but Bhalugadia villagers continued to stop operation in one or the their pretext, despite receiving compensation package and joining service of MCL.

As against the Government of Odisha’s R&R Policy-2006, which provides Rs 4,05,094 for self-relocation assistance, building assistance, subsidence grant, transportation allowance and assistance for temporary shed, MCL provides Rs 9,19,269 with additional early shifting assistance of Rs one lakh to the land owners, apart from cost of land and employment as per eligibility criteria. MCL provides Rs 6 lakh to each displaced family as assistance for self-relocation, as against policy provision of Rs 85,825 only.

 

The mining operations, which were stopped in entire Talcher coalfields in the first shift following the eviction drive, resumed this afternoon (second shift).Meanwhile,  Balram opencast project (OCP) of MCL remained paralysed on 20th day today, with no thaw between Solada and Danara villages of Talcher coalfields.

 

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

Fuel supply to coal consumers, including NALCO, JITPL, JSPL, BSL and GMR, is affected from Balram OCP, which has a capacity of 45 lakh tonne annual production.