Ongoing strike at Talcher Coalfields under the command area of Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has paralysed coal production for the sixth consecutive day.
It is pertinent to note that workers have resorted to the strike since 24 Jul’19 evening following the landslide at Bharatpur open pit coal mining project. Each day, MCL is accumulating 2.1 LT (Lakh Tonne) of coal output loss due to the prevailing agitation.
Due to the cease work call, MCL has been unable to excavate or dispatch coal. Not even a single cubic meter of overburden could be removed because of the strike called by the workers.
As a fall out of this coal crisis, NTPC Kaniha has been forced to shut two of its 500 MW units out of the overall capacity of the 3000 MW super thermal power station located near Talcher in Odisha. National Aluminium Company (NALCO) which draws coal from MCL’s Talcher Coalfields is also crisis ridden and may go for output cuts in aluminium if the situation worsens.
The stoppage of work at the Talcher coalfields has resulted in a loss of 1339.42 MU units of power generation.
On its part, MCL is diverting rakes from its IB valley coalfields to save the NTPC Kaniha plant from further crisis. Notably, NTPC’s pit head power station has a daily coal requirement of 55,000-60,000 MT to operate at peak load.
One rake of coal from the Basundhara region is also diverted to feed NALCO’s aluminium smelter at Angul. MCL has requested the NALCO authorities to arrange the additional rake by negotiating with the Railways.
It was informed that MCL had sustained losses worth INR 85.68 Crores due to nil production at Talcher Coalfields for the past six days. The central and state exchequers have also incurred losses to the tune of INR 55.46 Crores which could have accrued to them by way of taxes.
Meanwhile, the manager of the Bharatpur open cast coal mine project has been suspended for his alleged negligence in averting the strata failure at the mine that led to the fatal mishap. Three workers are said to be trapped in the debris while nine workers were recovered immediately and shifted to the Central Hospital for treatment.
An enquiry is underway to ascertain the reasons of the accident.
Talcher coalfields under the flagship of MCL boast the highest geographical reserve of 51.163 BnT in the country. During the first quarter of FY20 (Apr-Jun’19), MCL’s coal production has reached 34.78 MnT, up 7% Y-o-Y from 32.45 MnT in the corresponding period of FY19.
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