A five-day strike led by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has begun in protest against the implementation of 100 % FDI in the coal industry, at SECL.
The coal union is opposing the implementation of FDI in coal sector which permits 100% investment under automatic route for sale of coal and ‘associated processing infrastructure’ involving coal mining activities.
Although the amendments is likely to attract international players to create an efficient and competitive market, but there remains a growing fear that global mining giants who have deep pockets and high-end technology would cut-short the employment in the coal sector.
Sources aware of the current situation have reported that the protests were carried out at SECL’s Korba mining region, wherein workers were called by the union officials not to go to work. Besides, NTPC’s coal supply from Gevra via MGR was also stopped by the protesters.
The strike envisaged by BMS is likely to be followed by several other coal unions which have also served strike notice to the government regarding withdrawal of FDI.
The strike activity is expcted to worsen mining situation at SECL, which has already been lagging its output mark from the previous year. Notably, SECL’s coal production has fallen 14% Y-o-Y to 53.48 MnT in the first 5-months of FY20 (Apr-Aug’19).
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