In a move that impacts the common man as much as the government and state-owned organizations, coal workers and unions have decided to go on strike starting Tuesday, a move that risks affecting power production across the country.
Protesting against the government move on coal block allocation ordinance and privatisation of the sector, major trade unions have called for a 'militant' approach as a counter measure.
Coal Minister Piyush Goyal called for a meeting on 3 January to discuss the issue, but the major trade unions decided to boycott and instead called for a strike, said ZeeNews.
In a rare show of solidarity the five major trade unions of Coal India and its subsidiaries have come together to protest the government move.
The trade unions calling for the strike are BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS.
The strike is to start from first shift of January 6 to third shift of January 10.
India depends on coal for 60% of its power generation.
However, Coal India Ltd keeping a step ahead has transported more coal to the power stations before the strike, increasing coal movement by railways to 225 rakes a day from its earlier 207 rakes, reports Reuters.
A rake carries about 4,000 tonnes of coal a day Reuters.
The government might also import of coal to power the stations.
Coal India shares were trading at 383.20, up by 1.45 or 0.38% at 01:45 PM.
