Agitation over goat's death costs MCL 2.68 cr in Odisha

Bhubaneswar (IANS): The Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has said that it has suffered a loss of Rs 2.68 crore due to the agitation over the death of a goat in the Talcher Coalfields area in Odisha.

MCL suffered the loss on the account of stoppage of coal transportation and despatch work at Jaganath Sidings in Talcher Coalfields following the death of a goat after it collided with a coal transportation tipper on Monday, said an MCL statement.

The agitating locals were demanding Rs 60,000 as compensation for the death of the goat.

Some people from the Chatia Hurtings village created a ruckus as they protested against the killing of the goat in the prohibited mining area.

Jaganath Sidings 1 and 2 at Talcher Coalfields were forcibly stopped by the villagers on Monday morning. Work resumed only at 2.30 p.m. after the intervention of senior officials and the police, the statement said.

Due to the three-and-a-half-hour-long stoppage, MCL suffered an estimated loss of Rs 1.4 crore on account of coal transportation to the sidings, and Rs 1.28 crore on account of despatch through railways, said the MCL statement.

The government exchequer also suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 46 lakh due to this unprecedented stoppage, it said.

The company has lodged an FIR with the local police for necessary action against those who created the illegal obstruction.

While coal mines are restricted working zones where only people who are authorized, trained and have the knowhow of the mines enter to perform their job, the entry to mine areas is totally prohibited for general movement.