SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 16: The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU), affiliated with the Congress Party, has strongly opposed the closure of Steel Authority of India Limited’s (SAIL) Jeetpur coal mines located in Chasnala, Dhanbad.
The union has urged the Union Minister of Steel and the Chairman of SAIL to immediately reconsider the decision and restart production operations.
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Jaymangal Singh alias Anup Singh, MLA and National Vice-President of INTUC, has written to the Union Steel Minister and SAIL Chairman, urging them to revoke the closure in the interest of national assets and the livelihood of miners.
RCMU General Secretary A.K. Jha stated that the Jeetpur coal mines, which have been operational for over 109 years, are a critical resource. He said the closure has adversely impacted more than 1,000 labourer families and resulted in financial losses worth several crores to both the central and state governments.
Jha alleged that the closure was implemented under the pretext of a report by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), and accused certain vested interests of conspiring with officials to shut down the mine. “Announcing the closure of this mine is nothing short of a national crime. It is conspiracy of selected capitalists who in collaboration with officials implemented the closure announcement”, he said.
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According to RCMU, survey reports indicate that around 11 million tonnes of valuable Washery Grade-3 coal reserves remain in the Jeetpur coal mines. Jha asserted that SAIL has the technical capability to dewater the mine and resume operations, and demanded that the company take immediate steps to do so.