Lingaraj open cast coal mines under the command area of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), linked to the 3000 MW NTPC Kaniha plant, the second largest power plant in the country, is facing closure due to problems in land availability.
“The mine has reached the dead end and there is an urgent necessity to cut a village road for continuing the mining operations”, said an official of the Lingraj mines on the condition of anonymity. The road named as Dera-Kandal road under Talcher block is being used by the local people.
The mine officials said there is already an alternative road and they are also ready to build another road to link these two places. However, the Dera-Kandal road needed to be dismantled for continuing the mining operations. The attempts made earlier to cut the road have faced resistance from the locals who want an alternative road to be in place before the existing road is cut.
