Coal news and updates

CIL union plans stir on Nov 5 against commercial mining

October 21: A trade union body of Coal India Ltd (CIL) has called for a day-long “dharna” on November 5 to protest the government’s move to introduce commercial mining in the country.

In a statement issued by the All-India Coal Workers’ Federation (AICWF), its General Secretary Jiban Roy said the workers will observe November 5-7 as protest days opposing the coal privatisation move.

While lauding the government’s initiative to bring to operation all de-allocated mines through the promulgation of an Ordinance, the union said, “The Federation condemns its decision to introduce ‘e-auction’ (for allocation of blocks) and to house an enabling provision for commercial mining in the proposed Ordinance.”

“AICWF is of firm opinion that no other mechanism than holding Coal India Ltd as the sole nodal agency would be effective for sustaining a balance amongst production, distribution and price mechanism,” the statement said.