The coal sector strike entered its second day on Wednesday as reconciliation talks failed after nearly four-hour long discussions at the level of the coal secretary in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The senior leadership of the five trade unions including BMS which are participating in the strike, are camping in the capital waiting for some signs of an olive branch from the government.
"We are concerned about the national loss that the strike is causing..we are awaiting a political solution," a senior trade unions leader told The Hindu from Delhi. The five day strike has been called mainly to protest against the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014.
The trade unions perceive this as an attempt at denationalisation of the coal sector and are miffed at the re promulgation of the ordinance even after the serving of the strike notice.
With operations affected at most of the mines of CIL which produces bulk of India's coal, most of the daily production estimated at 1.5 million tons was lost on Tuesday.
The strike, joined by all five major trade unions — BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS — is also likely to affect fuel supply to power plants.
CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production.
CIL Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya, who assumed charge on Monday, had said he is hopeful that the situation would be resolved in an amicable manner
