SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, January 9: Various national coal trade unions and the management of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary company of Coal India Limited (CIL), are in a face-off over the implementation of Mine Developer Operator (MDO) policy.
A joint front of different recognised trade unions has announced a stop to coal dispatch from the Lodna Colliery area of BCCL against giving mines to private operators in MDO mode.
Trade unions to hold demonstration
The trade union leaders also decided to hold a demonstration in all colliery areas of BCCL on the same day.
“The BCCL management has completed the paper giving Lodna Colliery and Putki Balihari Colliery Area mines on MDO mode. Since it is a direct attempt to give national property in the hand of capitalists, a Joint Front (comprising of national and regional trade unions) has unanimously decided to protest the policy in the interest of miners with stopping dispatch of coal,” said A K Jha, general secretary Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union.
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NITI Ayog on MDO
NITI Aayog has recommended the Mine Developer Operator (MDO) policy to give mines to private operators for a long-term period. Under MDO mode, private operators will not only mine coal but will also sell it.
Coking coal producer
Trade union leaders who held a marathon meeting at Jagjivan Nagar on January 7 expressed apprehension that besides BCCL, Coal India Limited will implement the MDO in all its subsidiary companies. “As BCCL is the prime coking coal producer company in the country, under calculated move, CIL has started giving mines on MDO mode from here (BCCL), said Jha.
A senior BCCL Lodna Colliery Area official told the media that the issue was sorted out after a meeting of local trade union leaders. “The general manager of Area has held a meeting with colliery leaders and allayed their confusion over MDO,” said the official.
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