NLC staff begin work-to-rule stir

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, July 1 (UNI) Employees of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) today began ''work to rule'' agitation in the run up to the July 4 indefinite strike, protesting against the Centre's decision to disinvest ten per cent of its equity.

Production in the first coal mine was hit as about 19,000 employees belonging to 14 trade unions and four executive engineers associations began the agitation this morning.

The employees would go ahead with the stir till July 3, before launching the indefinite strike the next day which is expected to hit power generation.

Tamil Nadu was getting 600 MW of power generated in first thermal plant, while the 420 MW of power from the first expansion and 1470 MW from the second thermal plant was distributed to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Pondicherry.

All the political parties in the state, including the ruling DMK and the main Opposition AIADMK have pledged support to the indefinite strike.

UNI XR/WS GM SHR RK1901