Telangana: Singareni miners call for change in shift timings over soaring summer temperatures

Compared to normal areas, the quarrying sites record at least four to five degrees more

Peddapalli: The soaring summer temperatures is affecting workers in the opencast coal mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Compared to normal areas, the quarrying sites record at least four to five degrees more.

With this, miners working in opencast mines have asked the Singareni management to change the timing of their shifts. In this regard, workers led by the AITUC gave representation to OCP-I&III managers recently.

While about 44.5 to 45 degree Celsius temperatures are being recorded in surface areas of Ramagundam coal belt town, it has touched 48 degree Celsius in opencast mines, especially in the afternoons.

Miners attending duties in the first and second shifts are facing severe hardship due to the scorching heat between 1 pm and 3 pm. They wanted the SCCL management to change the timings of both the shifts. The usual morning shift is from 7 am to 3 pm. Workers want this to be changed to 7 am to 1 pm and the second shift from 4 pm to 11 pm instead of 3 pm to 11 pm.

Speaking to Telangana Today, a coal miner from OCP-I, Anand said they were unable to work in the afternoon due to the severe heat emanating from the layer of coal stocks. Heat would also be generated following the burning of coal due to high temperatures. Workers were unable to work in quarries, he said.

Another worker, Mallikarjun said that besides altering timings, coolers in reset rooms, cold water, butter milk packets and curd rice should be made available in canteens.

The workers have also demanded that water should be sprinkled frequently to settle the dust that spreads fast in the area during summer.