ANGUL: Coal production and dispatch have been hit at the Talcher coalfield of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) due to strike by drivers and helpers engaged in private transportation agencies since Monday.Production and dispatch in the coal mines are done by private companies who engage contractual workers for the purpose.Sources said due to the agitation, production has come down to a meagre 5,000 MT from seven open cast mines of the coalfield from about 1.2 lakh MT a day. Similarly, there was no rake dispatch of coal to outside Talcher on Tuesday. Sources said there was a clash between two unions of drivers and helpers of private transportation companies at the Anant Mine in Talcher coal belt on Sunday over work opportunities in the mine. Seven persons were injured and offices of some transportation companies ransacked.Former Zilla Parishad member Raj Kishore Sahu, who is the president of one of the unions, was injured in the clash. The other union is led by MLA Braj Kishore Pradhan.Seven FIRs were filed in the Colliery police station following which, Sahu and a driver of his rival group were arrested on Monday. Piqued over the arrest of Sahu, drivers and helpers of his group blocked the coal traffic and stormed the Sub-Collector’s office. They also submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Collector claiming that Sahu was innocent.Meanwhile, drivers belonging to places outside the State have fled fearing backlash and arrest. Pradhan has sought a high-level inquiry into the ‘illegal activities’ of members of the rival union.
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