Works related to removal of overburden (OB) in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) remained suspended for the past 13 days as the protesters seeking jobs to the locals, in lieu of those employed from other states, in the open cast project-5 in the Ramagundam Region of the SCCL.
In fact, removal  of one-lakh tons of overburden per day was affected because of the protests.
Meanwhile, the protests have been getting intensified with each passing day. The PC Patel and Company’s work of removing over burden in the project remained paralysed for the past 13 days. It has been adversely affecting the coal production in the project.
The Patel and Co has employed 800 workers belonging to Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP and Bihar to remove the over burden. Objecting to this, the locals have been demanding jobs in the project as per the GO.
Ramagundam MLA Raj Thakur Makhan Singh has been demanding jobs to the 80% of the locals in the OB contract works. It appears as though the SCCL management is reluctant to give jobs to the locals. Â
In view of the suspension of the works related to removal over burden and hurdles being caused to coal production in the project, the SCCKL management is required to take steps, giving  up its spectator role, to ensure that the problem would not become complex. Â
It should hold negotiations with the stakeholders to hammer out a solution to the problem.