TALCHER | March 17, 2017 : Two mega coal mines of MCL, shut down by the villagers of Soloda, remained closed on Thursday as the agitators refused to call off their strike.

Though the district administration proposed that the strike be deferred till March 21 when a meeting will be held in the presence of the MCL CMD and the Collector, the agitating villagers rejected the offer stating that they would continue their stir till that day.

According to the police, hundreds of villagers of Soloda stopped transportation of coal from Hingula mines on Wednesday morning and later they stopped coal production at Balaram and Hingula mines. Villagers of Gopalprasad had also supported them. They are demanding jobs against their land.

Four platoons of police force have been deployed near the mines. On the other hand, the MCL officials are worried over the loss of production in the last month of the financial year while the administration appears helpless in the situation.

(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)