With the State Government deciding to bring an end to lawlessness in coal zone and facilitate the expansion of coal mines, the State police sprang into action.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister of Coal Piyush Goyal were on same page over the issue and Union Secretary Coal Anil Kumar Jain and Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy tried sincerely to clear the impasse.

For last five years, expansion of Hingula mines was stalled due to creation of unauthorised barriers by the people of Bhalugadia, who were encroaching the coal bearing areas under various alibis.

While power plants were starving for coal, production and expansion of coal mines was not moving further.

With such an impasse, industry and mining sector was facing huge losses and State exchequer was facing loss of revenue and royalty from coal.

Looking at the scenario, the State Government green signalled for an action and the State Police decided to handle situation firmly.

Under direction of DGP BK Sharma, Angul SP Jagmohan Meena led the operation in a determined manner, which was opposed tooth and nail by Talcher BJD MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan.

The faceoff between the district police led by its SP Meena and MLA Pradhan along with displaced people at Talcher on the issue of displacement and rehabilitation created tension in Talcher.

The incident led to complete closure of operation of all the mines of MCL at Talcher. However situation soon will come to normalcy after the clearance of obstacle will be over.

The people of Bhalugadia, who are affected due to Hingula mines of MCL and allegedly are deprived of employment and proper rehabilitation have resented against forcible displacement.

However, police force led by the SP came to the spot to evict the agitators. But they faced opposition from the locals who were led by Pradhan.

While Pradhan was adamant, the police detained the agitators, including the MLA, while clearing the approach road to Hingula mines for allowing MCL authorities to kick-start expansion programme.