The Mahanadi Coalfields limited (MCl) may have to close down mining operations under its Jagannath Area in Angul district in view of a few villagers refusing to vacate their structures in the mining zone close to the edge of the projects under operations and paralysing work at the two projects of one-lakh-tonne-per-day-capacity from Friday.
At least 122 people in Hensmul village have refused to vacate structures/homestead land occupied by them despite continuous persuasion by the civil administration and company authorities and called for paralysing the two mega projects, Bhubaneswari OCP and Ananta OCP.
An MCl release said the company urgently needs that land to expand the Bhubaneswari OCP and meet the targeted production given to the mines as it has almost excavated coal from the existing location.
“Even if villagers do not disturb our operations but continue to occupy their dwellings at Hensmul village in the mining zone, the company will have no other option but to close down operations by October or November as there will remain no room left for mining in view of safety norms due to people’s presence at Hensmul. This may cost loss of around 120 lakh tonnes of coal production during current financial year,” the release stated.
“The company is firm on its stand that it will immediately reinstate the terminated workers provided they hand over vacant possession of land and clear place for mining for the greater interest of the nation as well as for their own interest,” the release said.
The MCl extended several offers to the protesting people during three rounds of tripartite talks between the company management, civil administration and the villagers following the termination of 122 people, but all in vain.
The Director General Mines Safety has already raised safety concerns with regard to the continuous occupation of some villagers at Hensmul adjoining the mining projects.
Since many power plants across the country are facing fuel shortage, the MCl has appealed to the villagers not to resort to protests or cause obstruction to coalmining operations and add to the woes of general people.