"We started our agitation on November 16, and it has entered the 21st day. It will continue till the MD of the Panem Coal Mines Ltd comes to talk to Samiti representatives," senior Samiti member and former Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi told reporters here.
"The senior most official should come to discuss how much time the company would take to implement the 2006 agreement it had signed with the Samiti. We want a time-frame, and it can only be assured by the senior most official of the company," the Congress leader added.
Stating that JVM(P) president Babulal Marandi and he would continue the agitation indefinitely, Stephen said the blockade of coal transport would continue till a firm assurance was given to the affected villagers.
The Marandis had rejected the letters sent by the company's Managing Director Ujjal Upadhyay through two company officials saying the talks could take place at the office of the Dumka Commissioner, saying they want talks at Pachuwara.
Officiating Dumka Commissioner Avinash Kumar had an inconclusive dialogue with Stephen Marandi and other Samiti members and Panem officials separately yesterday.
The Panem -- a joint venture formed by the Punjab State Electricity Board and the EMTA to produce and supply coal from the coal-mines of Pachwara exclusively to PSEB -- reached an agreement with villagers on November 30, 2006.
Under the agreement, the company was supposed to provide irrigation facilities, drinking water facilities and build roads, schools, a hospital, an ITI and other things.
While the Samiti alleged that nothing was done, the company claimed 80 per cent of the agreement were implemented.
Coal supply from there was disrupted following the agitation by Marandis from November 16.
