Agitation hit MCL coal production

Angul, Orissa, Aug 3 (UNI) A bandh, sponsored by the Congress party, today hit the coal production in six coal mines of the Mahanadi Coal Limited (MCL).

The bandh was called to protest the MCL's leasing out of office building to a trust for setting up of a private engineering college at Talcher.

Police arrested about 45 Congress activists including former zilla parishad chairman Digambar Garnaik, Ex-municipal chairman Keshab Bhutia, Zilla parishad member Braja Kishora Pradhan and Talcher block Congress president Biranchi Sahu for enforcing the bandh.

The Congress party opposed to MCL subletting the Balanda project office building to a private trust, owned by a local MP, and described the deal as ''unfair and illegal''. They resisted attempts by MCL authorities to vacate the building for the trust yesterday.

UNI