Government, workers talks on Coal India Ltd stake-sale fail

NEW DELHI: Talks between Coal India Ltd workers and the Centre failed though the government has offered to reduce disinvestment in Coal India Ltd to 5 per cent from earlier proposal of 10 per cent.

The government was expecting to mop up Rs 20000 crore through 10 per cent disinvestment in Coal India Ltd.

Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said the trade unions have agreed to the ministry's proposal but trade union leaders said the issue has not been sorted out.

Jaiswal held a meeting with the five trade unions of Coal India Ltd on Tuesday.

The trade unions have threatened to go on a three-day strike beginning August 5, if the government dilutes stake in Coal India.

All India Coal Workers Federation general secretary Jiban Roy said the government has offered to reduce stake sale in Coal India by 5 per cent but the unions were not in agreement with the proposal till the government resolves other issues raised by the workers.

The trade unions have made demands like non-producing coal blocks be awarded back to Coal India Ltd and coal sector be given infrastructure status.

Roy said the minister has asked Coal India Ltd and coal secretary S K Srivastava to look into the issues.