Coal news and updates

Coal Officers Cease Work, Seek Safety

Coal officers of Hingula area of MCL resorted to cease work from Saturday demanding safety and protesting attack on a project officer.

   The officers refrained from joining work at two mines of Hingula area demanding adequate safety provisions for them in their work places.

The project officer of Balaram coal mine S K Nath was allegedly assaulted by the local Sarpanch while he was going towards the mine on Friday morning. The Sarpanch, Manas Sahu, also made a similar allegation against the project officer. Both registered FIRs in the Colliery Police Station.

In his complaint, Nath alleged that while he was going to the mine, Sahu intercepted his vehicle and assaulted him. Sahu reportedly questioned Nath on blocking his phone number.  On the other hand, Nalco officers’ strike entered third day. On Saturday, they decided to deploy only a small number of officers in the smelter and power plant.  On Thursday, hundreds of executives of Nalco plants here had begun their indefinite dharna in front of the office of Executive Director protesting the attack on president of Nalco Officers’ Association Arun Sahu.

Sahu was assaulted by Paresh Jena, general secretary of INTUC workers’ union of the captive power plant, on Wednesday. He was admitted to Nalco hospital from where, he was shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Sahu had lodged an FIR at Nalco police station against Jena where he alleged that at about 11 am on Wednesday, when he was getting into his car near NH-55 at Nalco township, Jena attacked him with a stick and hurled abuses. Jena also lodged a counter police complaint against Sahu. Member of Nalco Officers’ Association, B Sethi said they would further intensify their stir if no action is taken against Jena at the earliest.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com