Coal production resumes; Govt to go ahead with reforms

Coal workers across the country have resumed work after a two-day strike and promised to make up for an estimated 1 million tonne production loss, as the government assured that state-run behemoth Coal India will not be privatised and employees' interests would be paramount.
At the same time, the government will move ahead with its plans to dilute some stake in Coal India Ltd (CIL) and to open up the coal sector for private mining.
"There is absolutely no change in any of our plans," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today.
"They (unions) have assured me that they will be part of mission 100 crores tonnes (Coal India's production by 2019-20) and they have assured me that they will make up for the loss of production of about a million tonne," he said.

Nearly 5 lakh coal workers had gone on a strike on Tuesday after five major trade unions, including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, gave a call for the biggest ever industrial action in four decades. They were protesting against what they called attempts for "disinvestment in Coal India and denationalisation of coal mining".
The unions had given call for a five-day strike, but called it off after the end of the second day, following over six-hour-long marathon meeting between trade union leaders and Goyal, among others, that continued till late last night.

In two days, the strike is estimated to have caused Rs 300 crore production loss, while it had also raised fears that a prolonged strike could lead to a possible electricity crisis if nearly 100 thermal power plants run out of fuel supplies.

The minister said that the trade unions have assured complete cooperation in the future as well, and they all will contribute to a "very bright future for Coal India Ltd".
Production today resumed at various mines of CIL and the company officials said that work was on in "full swing" from the first shift itself.
Workers began reporting for work from the third shift last night, soon after the strike was called off at around 10 pm.
"We will gear up resources to make up for the deficit during the two-day shut down. We are confident that our production target of 507 million tonnes for this fiscal will be achieved," the official said.