SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Feb 22: Rattled by frequent road accidents, BJP Nirsa MLA Aparna Sengupta has blocked the transportation of coal to Maithon Power Limited (MPL) for an indefinite period till the power plant management makes a separate road for its transport.
While talking to the media persons at Nirsa BJP office, Aparna Sengupta said that the coal transports of MPL have taken several casualties on Nirsa-Jamtara road (which leads to the power plant) but neither the management nor the Dhanbad district administration has initiated a step for checking the menace so far.
“So, blockade of the coal supply and dispatch of ash from MPL would continue until the Deputy commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police, District Transport Officer and officials of the MPL management sign an agreement for blocking the Nirsa -Jamtara road,” announced Aparna Sengupta.
Notably, on Monday (February 21) the Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC) led by former MLA Arup Chatterjee had staged a dharna at the main gate of MPL, blocking the entry and exit of officers and employees from the plant for more than six hours. The stir was for demanding employment to locals during the shutdown period.
Though the MPL management officially refused to comment over the blockade by the BJP MLA, a senior officer said that for the time being, the blockade of coal supply would not impact much as the plant is in shut down period from February 17.
The Nirsa MLA blocked the movement of MPL’s coal-laden vehicles after she had a miraculous escape in an accident from Hyva (coal vehicle of MPL) on February 19.
Earlier, in the first week of this month, a coal transport of MPL crushed a local youth.
Aparna Sengupta also said that she would raise the issue in the assembly if the district administration and the MPL management do not take steps to prevent road accidents on the vulnerable Nirsa – Jamtara road.
