The ongoing strike by hundreds of contract drivers at Talcher Coalfield of Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) has paralysed coal production and transportation from June 17, resulting in a coal crisis across the state. The stir has hit the 3,000-mw NTPC-Kaniha power plant and also led to a shutdown of the 120-mw captive plant of National Aluminium Company (Nalco).
Nalco officials said the dwindling coal stock at its captive plant has been reduced to about 35,000 tonnes, forcing it to shut down the plant. Before the stir, the plant had a stock of nearly 1.3 lakh tonnes, according to a company source.
Nalco and MCL are working together to resume coal supply using departmental dumpers and tippers.
The agitation by MCL truck drivers is set to continue as several rounds of talks between MCL and the strikers have failed.
Lingaraj mine at Talcher has been supplying about 10,000 tonnes of coal a day to the power plants using departmental vehicles. However, it is is not adequate to fire the plants.
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Sources hinted that many more units of Nalco and other power plants in the state would be forced to shut down if supplies did not resume within a day.
Sriramji Upadhaya, the chairman and managing director of MCL, and other executives of the company are camping at Talcher to get the drivers to resume work.
Drivers engaged by private coal transporters have formed an association and are on strike since June 16, putting forth 17 demands, including an increase in salary.