Workers stall mining at SAIL's Chiria mines

NEW DELHI: Over a thousand contract workers at SAIL's Chiria mines in Jharkhand have stalled mining operations for more than 20 days now demanding regularisation of services, a development that may give sleepless nights to many players planning huge investments in the state.

The workers have been on a strike since May 10 and have now threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike. SAIL management has had talks with the agitating workers but has failed to arrive at a solution so far.

"We apprised them of that regularisation of jobs would not be possible at this point of time because SAIL is still to get the mining rights of three leases, which are under dispute with the State Government," sources in SAIL said.

The iron ore lumps mined from Chiria in West Singhbhum district of the state are primarly supplied to SAIL's Burnpur, Bokaro and Rourkela plants. On an average, the per day mining of iron ore from Chiria mines hovers around 3,500 tons. Annually, SAIL mines around 1.2 million tons from the mine.

State-run SAIL had recently regularised about 200 contractual workers at its Gua Mines adjacent to Chiria. The agitation for job regularisation at Gua Mines was led by Rajesh Koda, younger brother of Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda.

At Chiria mines, one of Koda's former ally who was oustered from the Gua agitation, has initiated a similar strike. A local contractor, whose agreement with SAIL for manual mining at Chiria mine has expired, is also believed to be behind the strike.

Meanwhile, SAIL's contractor for iron ore mining at Chiria has issued a notice of no-work no-pay for them.