YELLANDU (BHADRADRI-KOTHAGUDEM) | March 24, 2017:

Uncertainty persists over continuation of the more than eight decade-old 21 Incline underground coal mine in the coal town of Yellandu with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)’s management pushing ahead with its proposal to permanently close the coal mine, citing safety reasons.

The history of the Singareni coal company is closely interwoven with Yellandu, considered the birth place of Singareni.

The 21 Incline mine, dating back to the British period, was once considered as the pride of Singareni.

The fate of the 21 Incline mine is now hanging in the balance with the company management suspending coal production in the underground coal mine over 10 days ago citing “issues related to workplace safety.”

The company’s move to shut down the 21 Incline permanently met with stiff resistance from various trade unions operating in the coal belt region in the recent past.

The Joint Action Committee of different trade unions observed a bandh in the coal town in December last year in protest against the move.

According to sources, there are around 446 workmen on rolls in the 21 Incline mine.

The company has already issued a notification giving an option to the coal miners working in the 21 Incline to get transfer to other areas in Kothagudem region, sources added.

The company is trying to shut down the 21 Incline mine on one pretext or the other to pave way for opencast project, alleged D Prasad, regional secretary, IFTU-affiliated Godavari Loya Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham, The 21 Incline mine is endowed with abundant coal deposits. It has the potential to sustain coal mining for at least another three years, he said, suggesting that the latest technology should be tapped to ensure continued coal production in the coal mine in adherence to safety precautions.

When contacted, SCCL Yellandu Area General Manager Y Rajeswara Reddy told The Hindu that coal production in the 21 Incline mine was suspended over a week ago due to spontaneous heating in the panel area of the underground mine. The move was necessitated to avoid risk to the workmen, he said, adding that a technical team visited the mine.

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