Scarcity of coal has hit major industries in the State like Vedanta, Nalco, Hindalco and Bhusan, racking up huge costs in import of coal and power. This has led to insecurity amongst locals, who fear partial or full closure of operations by these companies.
Led by the Bisthapit Sachetan Samiti, a rally was organised in Bhubaneswar on Monday, bringing the plight of the industries to the notice of State and Central Governments and urge for remedial action.
This was the second such demonstration as last Wednesday thousands of people in the western belts of Odisha staged a rally at the MCL’s gates in Burla. On Monday, Jharsuguda MLA NabaKisore Das submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Coal and the PM’s Office as a part of the demonstration in Bhubaneswar seeking their intervention to alleviate the concerns of local producers in four major areas. It requested for equitable distribution to captive and independent power plants, dedicated rakes for transportation of coal to local industries, increased local employment in mines and increased CSR spending by the MCL. Threatened by potential outcomes of the raw material crisis, people are joining the movement in greater numbers and voicing their concerns as to the impact this could have on the State’s socioeconomic condition.
MLA Das said the MCL produces about 140 MT of coal annually and can easily cater to the State’s total requirement of 76 MT, but the local industries starve in want of coal as about 100 MT of coal is sent outside the State for other industries and powerhouses. In the past 12-15 months, the Railways allotted 4300+ rakes to the CIL for coal movement, of which the MCL has the third-largest pending rakes numbered around 1,000.
Forced to import coal and power, major companies in Odisha spent hundreds of crores of rupees for imports in October alone. This does not bode well for campaigns like Make in Odisha as it can easily dissuade business houses from setting up shop in the State.