Talcher: Coal supply to Talcher Thermal Power Station was severely disrupted after a major fire broke out at the coal conveyor belt of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL)-owned Jagannath Coal Mines near its project office here Monday.
However, the fire was soon brought under control after labourers rushed to the area and heaped sand and soil on the conveyor belt to put out the flames. On being informed, a rescue team from MCL, state and mines fire personnel rushed to the site and joined hands with the labourers in dousing the fire.
The conveyor belt first caught fire at 10 am which was detected after it stopped functioning at about 12.30 pm. Soon, flames began to leap out from the belt with thick black smoke engulfing the whole area. The fire destroyed properties worth over Rs 2 crore. Over 300 m out of the 482 m length of the belt from B-house complex to C-House complex including the roller, cables, and other spare parts were destroyed in the fire.
It is alleged that the conveyor belt caught fire due to lack of regular maintenance which is vested in the hands of casual labourers.
Sources said over four to five metric tonnes of coal is supplied through the eight-km long conveyor belt of the coal mines to Talcher Thermal Power Station.
Samarendra Mallick, public relations officer of TTPS, said the fire occurred because of technical problems.
He said only 2 m of the conveyor belt was burnt in the fire which will soon become operational as its repairs have been taken up on a war footing.
Property worth crores was similarly destroyed in a fire in the conveyor belt three years back. PNN
