KEONJHAR: The government and mining companies were feared to face a loss of over Rs 250 crore on the first day of the nationwide bandh in the district as mineral transportation by rail and road came to a halt on Wednesday.

"There was no mining activity here today and the loss is tremendous," said deputy director of mines Ballav Ch Nayak. While no trains plied in the district, supporters and leaders of various trade unions blocked National Highway-215 (Rajamunda-Panikoili) and NH-6 (Mumbai-Kolkata) at different places, affecting transportation of minerals.

PANJIM: Labour unions in Goa have filed several cases against mining firms and allied industries for large scale suspension and layoff of workers since October 2012, salary cuts, which are against

PANJIM: Goa Mining People’s Front held a public meeting at Curchorem to impress upon the Government to end the mining crisis in the State.

Addressing the meeting All India Trade Union General Secretary Christopher Fonseca said a sudden ban on mining was uncalled for and as a result livelihoods of thousands were affected. He said if the Government fails to resolve the crisis, then the mining-dependent people would be forced to unleash a militant-type struggle to ensure that mining activity commences.

“Not a single coal block has been allotted without the consent of the state government. Not only this, the committee through which the coal blocks are allocated has a chief secretary-level officer from the state concerned as its member.”

“Doubts have been raised by certain quarters regarding allocation of coal blocks to private companies for captive use. The blocks were allocated on the basis of recommendation of the screening committee which had acted in an unbiased and transparent manner,” he said.