Over 200 members of the Basundhara Kriyanusthan Committee and members of the Road Transport Association staged a ‘Rail Roko’ at the Sardega Railway Siding, demanding priority coal rake supplies to captive power plants (CPPs) in Odisha from the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).

The locals squatted on rail tracks along the siding railway station at around 10.30 am impacting the loading of 2-3 rakes for the day, displaying banners that raised concerns on the coal shortage situation prevailing in the State since August 2021, with the CPPs getting just 40-50% of the required coal supplies, creating a backlog of over 1,500 coal rakes.

As the day marked the weekly coal despatch period for MCL, the activists continued the rail roko for more than 4 hours, which severely affected the coal rake despatch to other States while demanding 100% coal requirement of the local CPP-based industries of Odisha from MCL. The activists have also conveyed that they planned to submit a representation to the MCL CMD and district Collector. 

Seeking Government support in this matter of critical importance, the activists consented to call off on the intervention of the Railway authorities, while insisting that prompt action is needed to be taken for the immediate resumption of coal and rake supplies from MCL, to help meet the 100% coal requirement of the local CPP-based industries of Odisha. They urged timely action in the greater interest of thousands of industries and to save lakhs of people from the loss of employment and livelihoods.