Kolkata: Coal India’s output fell on Thursday as workers began a three-day strike to oppose private competition in mining. The impact on customers is marginal as most of them have huge stocks of coal.
Attendance of workers fell to 20% in Coal India and 17% at Singareni Collieries Company Ltd but executives attended office.
“Production and despatches at many mines of CIL subsidiaries including Mahanadi Coalfields, Central Coalfields and
Bharat Coking Coal were affected due to the strike while some mines of
Eastern Coalfields were operational,” a Coal India executive said.
D D Ramanandan, president All India Coal Workers Federation affiliated to
Centre of Indian Trade Unions affiliated to
CITU said almost all mines were affected.
An executive at
Singaneri Colleries said some mines were operational but coal loading had halved. Emails sent to CIL & SCCL spokespersons did not evoke any response.
Unions served the strike notice on June 18, when the government launched the auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining.
According to Central Electricity Authority, average stocks at power plants are 27 days.