The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has attached top priority to work of sand stowing in Talcher mines, where repeated subsidence incidents are occurring putting a question mark on safety of the mines as well of Talcher.

The MCL has placed work order on Central Institute for Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), Dhanbad, to carry out scientific study for assessing the present status of long term stability of all underground workings of Talcher coalfields. However, the coal major has sought the cooperation of the locals in this regard, particularly in removing approach congestions for sand transportation to the pre-independence underground network.

In Talcher, the oldest coalfields of Odisha, the underground mining operations started in 1928 at Handidhua Colliery, Deulbera Colliery and Talcher Colliery, which became inactive in year 1998, 2006 and 2018, respectively.

Since most of the development of these mines were done without scientific approach for about five decades before nationalisation of coal sector in 1976, identifying underground network of these mines has always been a tough task for the MCL, admitted the company in a release.

It said, "The MCL has always been affirmative to undertake stablisation work but practical constraints of inaccessible vulnerable areas developed during pre-nationalisation era and the resistance posed by the local dwellers over the workings has always been a challenge. It is, however, painful whenever we are blamed for non-execution of stabilisation work for the reasons beyond the control of present management."

The MCL has already initiated a process for regional planning of Talcher coalfields with IIT Kharagpur providing consultancy service.