HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, June 26: Trade unions in Margherita, including PKMS affiliated to BMS, CITU, INTUC, and workers of Tirap Colliery NEC CIL Margherita, staged a one-hour sit-in on Monday to protest the shutdown of coal production at Tirap Colliery since June 6, 2020.
Over 100 trade union leaders and coal workers from Tirap Colliery participated in the one-hour sit-in. Dhruva Upadhyay of PKMS stated that North Eastern Coalfields Coal India Ltd Margherita is the only profitable PSU in the 124th Margherita constituency under Tinsukia district. It directly employs over 5,000 workers. However, the sudden shutdown of Tirap Colliery on June 6, 2020, has had a drastic socio-economic impact on Margherita. Upadhyay requested Union Coal minister Dr Pralhad Joshi and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to immediately resume coal production at Tirap Colliery. The colliery possesses abundant coal reserves that can meet the demands of industries and factories in our country.
Upadhyay further highlighted that NEC has the best quality coal among all the collieries in the country. However, the sudden shutdown of Tirap Colliery has brought darkness to the area. He urged both the Union and state governments to take strong measures to restart coal production.
