Strike paralyses NALCO production

Bhubaneswar, Jun 30 : Production in NALCO came to a grinding halt and work in several central government undertakings in Orissa were paralysed in response to a strike called by seven trade unions to protest disinvestment in NALCO by the UPA government.

All the political parties barring the Congress extended their support to the strike called by the Orissa unit of the AITUC, INTUC, CITU, UTCC(LS), BMS, BHS and AICCTU to lodge their strong protest against the 10 per cent off loading of government equity in the NALCO.

NALCO sources said the production in the Smelter plant at Angul Refinery plant at Damonjodi and Mining at Panchputmali in Koraput was paralysed as the employees abstained from attending the work.

Train services in the state were severely affected forcing the East Coast Railway authority to cancel at least four passengers train and halt several long distance trains at various stations in the state.

However, report reaching here said the Rourkela Steel Plant and the Paradip Port Trust functioned normally. Central government offices in most parts of Orissa, Banks and Insurances offices were closed following the agitation.

The supporters of the seven trade unions resorted to picketing at several places, forcing closure of the Banks and central government undertakings. At many places, private buses were off the road as the private operators joined the agitation. The production in Mahanadi Coal Field Limited was also affected following the strike, sources said.

The trade union activists and supporters of various political parties demonstrated before the NALCO corporate office here demanding immediate withdrawal of the decision to disinvest the profit making NALCO.

UNI