PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Sept 24: Operations at Uranium Corporation of India Limited’s (UCIL) Bhatin Uranium Project near Jadugora in East Singhbhum came to a grinding halt on Tuesday after more than 300 contractual workers launched an indefinite strike.
The workers, engaged through contractor Geo Tech, staged a sit-in protest inside the premises, pressing their demand for bonus payments.
The agitation crippled the daily output of nearly 300 tonnes of uranium ore, dealing a significant blow to UCIL’s production line.
Only a skeletal workforce of around 20 men has been retained to manage emergency duties such as mine dewatering, power supply, and first-aid services.
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Officials maintained that stringent safety protocols are being observed to safeguard machinery and infrastructure during the shutdown.
According to sources, defiant workers refused to vacate the premises, vowing to continue their sit-in until management concedes to their bonus demand.
Their presence within the plant compound has heightened pressure on UCIL, given the company’s crucial supply commitments.
Preliminary talks between UCIL management and contractor representatives have so far failed to break the deadlock.
Union functionaries cautioned that the unrest could escalate further, potentially spreading to other UCIL projects if the stalemate lingers.
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With supply chains and national commitments hinging on uninterrupted uranium production, all eyes remain on how swiftly UCIL resolves this brewing industrial standoff.
