Dhanbad: BJP workers blocked NH-19 at Nirsa Chowk on Wednesday evening in protest against the disruption of operations at Maithon Power Limited (MPL) for the past three days. Led by former Dhanbad district BJP president Ashok Mandal, the protesters raised slogans against Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee and accused him of interfering in industrial activities in the area.
75 Minute Blockade Brings Traffic to a Halt
The road blockade began around 6 PM and continued for nearly 75 minutes. Traffic on both the Delhi and Kolkata lanes was affected, with vehicles forming queues stretching nearly three kilometers. The blockade was lifted after administrative officials assured the protesters that the issue would be looked into. Mandal said MPL’s continued disruption was affecting a large number of heavy vehicles, workers and others dependent on the plant for their livelihood.
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Mandal alleged that there had been little effort to bring new industries to Nirsa while several existing industrial units had closed down. He named KMCEL, KFS, Burn Standard, Telpul Dam, Sindri Workshop, Thapar Factory and Ashok Karkhana among the units that had shut operations, saying the closures had reduced employment opportunities in the region. He further alleged that interference in industrial affairs was affecting MPL and said the impact was being felt by workers, displaced families, transporters and other local businesses.
Warning of Another NH-19 Blockade
Mandal said hundreds of Hywa vehicles and other goods vehicles had remained stranded at different points between Dhanbad and Nirsa for the past three days because of the disruption at MPL. He claimed drivers and helpers were facing difficulties in arranging food and other basic needs, while officers and employees were also reportedly stuck inside the plant. Mandal warned that BJP workers would block NH-19 again if MPL operations did not resume by Thursday morning. The allegations against MLA Arup Chatterjee were made by the BJP leader. No response from the MLA or MPL was mentioned in the report.
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