CIL unions to make up for output loss of 1 million tonnes: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi: Coal India (CIL) trade unions have assured the government that they will try to make up for the  loss in production of about one million tonnes on account of  workers strike which was called off yesterday, said Coal and Power Minister, Piyush Goyal. 

"They have assured me that they will be part of mission 100 crores tonnes (Coal India's production by 2019-20) and  they have assured me that they will make up for the loss of  production of about a million tonne," Goyal  said.  He said this while presenting the report card on first 200 days of the working of the ministries of Coal, Power and  Renewable Energy. 

Coal workers had last night called off their five-day nationwide strike after two days following the intervention of  the government.  Goyal said that the unions have also assured complete  cooperation in the future as well.  "At the outset nobody is divided. All five of them (trade  unions) sat with us. We had a very healthy exchange of  views, ideas, discussions.

I believe that all five unions  have gone back satisfied that the steps being taken by the  union government are in the interest of the nation, are in the  interest of workmen of Coal India Ltd," he said.  He stated that the discussion with the unions were very  fruitful and healthy and added that "I see before me a very  bright future for Coal India." 

The government had last night assured trade unions that  CIL will not be privatised and the employees' interest will be  protected.  Nearly five lakh coal workers had gone on a strike  on Tuesday after five major trade unions, including BJP-backed  Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, gave a call for the biggest ever  industrial action in four decades against what they called  attempts for "disinvestment in Coal India and  denationalisation of coal mining".  "There is no intention of denationalisation of CIL.

The  present and future interest of CIL employees will not be  affected in any manner. CIL will be protected and there need  be no apprehension about its ownership or management going  into private hands," Goyal had said yesterday. The five-day strike was called off midway after Goyal  assured the union leaders that the government will look into  their concerns and will form a committee, headed by a Joint  Secretary, that will have representation from all five trade  unions and officials of CIL and Singareni Collieries Company  Ltd.