Industrial Displacement Awareness Forum Protests at MCL

Burla: Protests erupted on Thursday in front of the MLCL headquarters demanding the supply of coal to factories in Odisha on a priority basis. Under pressure from the central government, coal is now being shipped out of the state. The regional industrial displaced awareness forum has warned the Bharat Coal Commissioner that the agitation will intensify if the demands are not met.

MCL produces 144 million tonnes of coal annually. There are about 40 small and medium enterprises in Odisha. All of these factories need about 85 million tons of coal. This requires the supply of 36 coal mines daily. All of these factories are about a hundred kilometers from the coal mines, so the supply of coal should not be a problem. But under pressure from the central government, MCL is supplying more coal to the state. This will affect the production of local factories. Not only that, with the closure of the factory, about 30 percent of the workforce will also be unemployed. The state treasury also has to bear the brunt. Therefore, the Jharsuguda Regional Industrial Displaced Awareness Forum issued a demand letter to the chairman and managing director of MCL on the 17th to supply coal to the state’s factories as required. He was warned to protest if his demands were not met.

Protests erupted in front of the MCL headquarters on Thursday as demands were not met. Later, a delegation from the Manch handed over a four-point memorandum to RL Thatik, General Manager (Personnel) of MCL in Jagruti Bihar, Burla. “In particular, all the factories needed for the growth of the state’s economy will be supplied with coal, eliminated the demand for coal, taken steps for socio-economic growth, and created jobs in mines and factories,” it said. Manchar president Tapas Roy Chowdhury, vice-president Ravi Singh, general secretary P. Ram Mohan Rao, Siddharth Sarkar led the main movement. Hundreds of displaced people joined the movement.