Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, today resumed operation at three open cast mines, which were closed since July 11 due to protest by locals.
"Production and transportation started at Bhubaneswari, Ananta and Jagannath mines in Angul district's Talcher area following the local administration's intervention," said the coal miner in a statement.
These mines have a combined daily production of about one lakh tonnes - a third of MCL's daily output. MCL halted operations at the mines after over a hundred people, who are staying in the mining zone, launched an indefinite shutdown in the area four days ago demanding relocation to a site which lies among the three coal mines.
District Superintendent of Police Narasingh Bhol said mining operations were resumed after police chased the protesters away from the site and arrested eight of them. MCL said if the people do not vacate their dwelling units by October and relocate to a place identified by the company, then it would have no other option but to close down the mines.
