SCCL workers unions protest on Central Govt. decision

Telangana: Coal production in mines of the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), situated in different places across the State, halted on Wednesday. This marked the first day of a three-day strike called by several workers unions against the Central government decision on private coal mines.

Nearly 75% of SCCL employees working in the coal belt area of former Khammam district boycotted work and held protests in Kothagudem, Yellandu, Manuguru and Sathupalli against the government move to auction coal mines.

Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) activists and TRS leaders held protest programmes at the SCCL mines in both Kothagudem and Khammam districts. A protest was also held at the corporate office of SCCL, in Kothagudem.

TRS district leader Vanama Raghavendra Rao, Kothagudem municipal chairperson Kapu Sitalakshmi, vice-chairperson Damodar and TBGKS leaders Somi Reddy, Razaack, Kapu Krishna others took part in the protests.

Speaking on the occasion, Raghavendra Rao convinced employees that both Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Kothagudem MLA Vanama Venkateswar Rao will stand by their demands and protecting coal mining from getting privatise.

Addressing the media, he said that the Centre was acting separately, without considering the interests of workers of mines. He also appealed Central government to immediately withdraw its decision to privatise coal mining.

After the strike called by various employees' unions, the SCCL workers in Jayashankar of Bhupalpally district also boycotted their works on Thursday. The union workers protested and demanded the Centre to withdraw the proposal for privatization of coal mines. The leaders of various political parties and unions took part in the protest. Meanwhile, the workers associated with the SCCL mine at Ramagundam also avoided doing their duties.

This situation is creating huge losses to the company. According to the sources, the first day of the strike has hit coal production in the area to the tune of about 1.40 lakh tonnes.