Apprehensive of job losses and partial closure of factories, project displaced families, civic outfits, NGOs and community members held a dharna in front of MCL CMD's office in Sambalpur and demanded coal supply to local industries in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts.
The agitation was led by Jharsuguda Visthapita Sachetana Samiti on Wednesday and was joined in by people from all walks of life, including industrial workers from Jharsuguda.
Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kisore Das also joined the movement and submitted a memorandum to MCL CMD on behalf of the local populace and industries.
The memorandum outlines the operational stress that regional industries are undergoing due to coal crunch and demands urgent remedial measures on the key issues like Odisha's coal for Odisha's industries first, increased production from MCL, coal security for Odisha based industries and 20 per cent increased allocation of total coal production from Odisha that should be exclusively assured for industries.
The representatives also said that if the local industries are not given priority and assurance of coal security, the movement will be taken up at State level till the demands are met.
In recent times, many local industries have faced closure and lockout due to acute shortage of coal.
While the State industries are under stress, majority of the coal produced by MCL is getting diverted to IPPs within and beyond the State.
This has resulted in serious socio-economic crisis, leading to job losses due to industrial crisis in the region particularly.
Major industries like Vedanta, Hindalco, Bhusan and Jindal have also suffered on account of this that reflects in their output and performance.