Sambalpur, 2nd August 2019:
The shut down of entire Talcher Coalfields by the BJP Unit of Talcher Coalfields from the evening of 24th July 2019 demanding a safety inspection of entire Talcher coalfields along with a high level investigation into the incident of strata failure at its Bharatpur Mines in Talcher Coalfields and compensation to the victims was placed before Collector, Angul on 31st August which the District authorities agreed to look into leading to a withdrawal of the blockade by the BJP unit of Talcher.However within two hours of the withdrawal, villagers of Talcher shutdown the entire mines of Talcher Coalfields.Subsequently, the same day, Talcher MLA Sri Braj Kishore Pradhan along with members of the Talcher Suraksha Parishad submitted a set of demands which included Compensation of Rs 3.00 crores each to the family of the deceased and one permanent employment in MCL to the deceased nominee. It is notable that the wages of the deceased workers working as contractual workers are governed by the recommendations of a High Powered Committee (HPC) formed by Coal India to decide wages of the Contractual workers in the mines. As per its recommendations all Coal India Contractual workers working in the mines get HPC wages which comes to a minimum of Rs 20,000 – 22,000 per month.
MCL has all along stated that as per the CIL Policy adopted in all coal mines of Coal India, an ex-gratia of Rs 5.00 lacs in addition to compensation as per the Employees Compensation (Amendment) Act 2017 wherein the compensation ranges from 4 lacs to 9 lacs , Gratuity &Provident Fund as due. In addition Coal India also offers a job to the deceased family in contractual works. With the state Government handing over an additional Rs 5.00 lacs as Ex-Gratia, the total compensation amount comes to around 14-19 lacs in this case.
As per the current Bank interest rates, a principal amount of Rs 30.00 lacs would earn an interest amount of Rs 20,000 per month ( i.e equal to the minimum HPC wages) which in effect makes the total compensation package around Rs 44-49 lacs.
All PSU’s in the recent past where accidents have taken place have given compensation as per the Employees Compensation Act besides ex-gratia as decided from time to time. This is also practiced in State PSU’s under the Govt. of Odisha. However no permanent employment has been offered to the family of the deceased. Ann-I
Thus the demand raised for Rs 3 crores and a permanent job in MCL to each of the deceased by the villagers is not only illogical but illegal as well which a Central PSU like MCL cannot fulfill.
The closure of the Mines not only has incurred huge losses to the company, the state and Central Exchequer but also affected the income of the 15000 workers of MCL, 12000 contractual workers, 10,000 truck drivers and khalasis of Private trucks plying coal in Talcher coalfields besides the business interest of around 5000 medium & small businessmen. The entire blockade has thus affected the earnings of around more than 40,000 families of Talcher for which the responsibility lies on the people behind the blockade.
MCL Management also fears that due to forceful closure of the mines, especially during the monsoon season, all mines have become vulnerable for the following reasons.
- Garland drains are constructed during monsoons all around the mines to prevent water from entering the mine area. This needs continuous supervision and maintenance without which the mines would drown. This is not being allowed.
- Fire Fighting in coal mines is a continuous process since exposed coal has an intrinsic property of internal heating leading to catching fire. There are very likely chances that the exposed coal would catch fire in the absence of Fire Fighting exercises.
- Rain water and under-ground water in the mines are continuously pumped out to keep mines and its machinery in workable condition. Lack of pumping would not only endanger the drowning of the machines but also might lead to electric current flowing in the water causing fatal accidents.
- Dump slide can take place in mines due to seepage of rain water which is normally inspected each day. Not permitting the Safety team to inspect the mines every day can cause serious repercussions.
The above fear was expressed by all the 4 Trade Unions in a letter handed over to the Collector, Angul on 1st August 2019, urging him to intervene in the matter and restore normalcy.
Moreover there is no justification in stopping all the other 8 mines of Talcher Coalfields when the incident of Strata Slippage occurred in the Bharatpur Mines.
The current losses to the company following the shut down from 24th July 2019 till date is a coal Production loss of 16.84 Lac Tonnes of Coal valuing 170.96 crores, 19.32 lac Tonnes of Despach, 16.5 Lac Cubic Meter of Over Burden, Loss of Rs 110.66 Crores to the State & Central Exchequer and 2672.50 Million Units of Generation Loss.
To meet the energy requirement of the nation and to address the safety issues of the mines, it is imperative that the remaining 8 mines be allowed to function at the earliest.
