Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, closed down mining operations at 3 mines in the Jagannath area in Angul district of Odisha following protests by villagers. At least 122 people in the Hensmul village in the area have refused to vacate, despite resettlement offers from the company. Closure of mining operations at Jagannath Area would mean snapping off fuel supplies to the power plants in Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It will also hinder operations of the Bhubaneswari and Ananta open cast projects in Odisha. Quarters were given to 79 of the 122 villagers, and, the rest were assured of interim arrangements. However, the villagers refused to hand over their possessions over concerns of their livelihood. The halted ...

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