Coal transportation from Mahanadi Coalfields paralysed

Talcher (Orissa), Feb 6 (PTI) Coal transportation wasparalysed today as private truckers engaged by MahanadiCoalfields Ltd (MCL) in Orissa''s Angul district went on strikedemanding improvement in their contract arrangement.

Around 5,000 truckers have resorted to strike sinceFriday night seeking better conditions like provident fundfacilities and engagement of more locals, Nirmal Mishra,sub-collector, Angul told PTI here today.

Efforts were on to resolve the issue through talks,said MCL''s Director (Personnel) S C Padhi, who is likely holddiscussion with the district collector and others in a bid tosort out the matter.

Arrangements have been made for supply of coal todifferent coal consuming units in the region though majorityof the truck operators were on strike, he said.

Movement of around 24 rakes of coal, which were dailydispatched to different locations of the country from Talcherrailway station came to a grinding halt due to the strike, thesources said.

Coal supply to Nationl Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC) at Kaniha, Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) andNatioal Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) was also hit due tostrike, they said.

The strike has been continuing in seven open castmines such as Lingaraj, Ananta, Jagannath, Bhartpur, Balaram,Hingula and Bhubaneswari.