Altogether 250 labourers were trapped about 700 feet below the ground level in the underground mines near Talcher as the lift meant for bringing them up after their shift failed to function, a spokesman of MCL said. A rescue operation was launched immediately with the help of another lift meant for taking out coal from the mines and 100 workers were first brought up, he said.
The incident took place when some people from nearby villages were collecting coal from the "over-burdened" dump yard located near the mining area.
After a 10-month probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation has decided to file a closure report in the coal block allocation case involving industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parakh as the agency could not find any evidence in this matter.
A special court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to clarify whether "rule of law" was followed in allocation of coal blocks to top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla's Hindalco.
CBI is likely to examine soon Hindalco chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parakh, who are named as accused in the FIR related to Talabira coal block allocation to Hindalco, as it wants to expedite probe.
Way before the rains arrived at Talwandi Sabo Power plant in Punjab, the one check the coal ministry was carrying out was the availability of coal stock with the generator. Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), the 1,980-Mw thermal power plant of Sterlite Energy, part of the Vedanta Group, which supplies about 15 per cent of Punjab's power, is one of the most difficult locations to manage coal supplies. It is nearly 1,700 km from the mines of Mahanadi Coalfields in Odisha, the longest coal route in India and possibly the trickiest as it cuts through the traffic heavy rail lines between Delhi and eastern India.
Sharp fall in capital goods production and manufacturing activity also dented sentiments.
The PM alleged that a 'PC' (percentage commission) culture has become the state government's identity.
The increase in production will be from the existing mines.
.jpg)
Crony capitalism will of course generate investment and ensure profit for private capital, but it won't give employment or income to the people. If you can make money by selling coal or speculating in land, why produce electricity, why invest in research and development, why even set up factories, asks Praful Bidwai.
Though the current National Democratic Alliance government has not endorsed the figure, it has not even repudiated it.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances