Thousands of villagers of six gram panchayats under Kishornagar block in Angul district have submitted a memorandum to the Athamallik Sub-Collector for smooth operating and continuance of a coal stockyard near the Handapa railway station, which is providing livelihood to hundreds of families living around it.
The villagers, under the banner of Maa Maheswari United Prajasangh urged the Government to allow operation of the coal yard to stop massive migration from the area. Kishorenagar block has no industries and mines. Hundreds of poor villagers are engaged in the transportation activities of the coal yard and getting livelihood.
“When the country has acute coal shortage affecting power plants and other industries, 31 trains have been loaded with coal from the Handapa siding in last two months and the Railways has earned around Rs 6.20 crore,” said Praja Sangha president Khirod Behera.
