Mine associations, trade unions oppose privatization of coal sector

Sindri: The BCCL chapter of the coal mines officer’s association and trade unions on Saturday opposed the Union government’s decision to open up coal mines to the private sector and allow commercial mining. The move came after Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaram announced a Rs 50,000-crore boost to the coal infra and FDI in defence sector as part of the fourth instalment of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme.
“Coal Mines Officer’s Association of India (CMOAI) would oppose any move to privatise the coal sector and allow commercial mining of coal,” said general secretary of BCCL chapter of CMOAI, Bhabani Bandopadhyay adding Sitaraman’s announcement is nothing but an attempt to betray the confidence posed by pubic in the present government.
“All previous attempts in this regard have failed. More than 100 coal blocks have already been allotted to private players, but they have not succeeded in achieving the goal so far. Mining is a complex field and it is a tough nut for private companies to crack who just aim for profits without taking care of other factors,” Bandopadhyay opined.
Dhanbad Coal Karamchari Sangh general secretary K P Gupta said any attempt to privatise the coal sector would be opposed. “The Union government has been trying to introduce commercial mining since 2015, but has not succeeded because of opposition by all trade unions. Centre is trying to serve the cause of some capitalists.”
National general secretary of CITU-affiliated All India Coal Workers Federation, D D Ramnandan, said Sitharaman’s announcement is nothing but an attempt to deceive public in the name of relief packages in times of Covid-19. “The central government has allowed private players to mine coal by passing a law under the Coal Mines Special Provisions Act 2015, but no major players have come forward so far as coal mining involves problems of land acquisition and local disturbances and are not profitable propositions for private investors who look for quick money,” Ramnandan said.
“Sitharaman announced a package of Rs 50, 000 crore for developing evacuation infrastructure for enhancing coal production, but has no answer as to why the three rail lines of the coal corridor from Chandwa to Tori in Jharkhand, from Jharsuguda to Barapalli in Odisha and from Raigarh to Mand in Chhatisgarh are not completed in the last 15 years. Coal production would go up by 100MT if these rail lines become operational,” Ramnandan opined adding the announcement has been made without making any ground survey.
“The government should give direct relief to the needy and not help corporate houses in the name of relief packages to the poor,” he added.