By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 22, 2022: The Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME) has urged the Odisha government for help as the ongoing coal crisis have hit the local industries drastically.

The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) Ltd and OASME in separate letters to chief minister Naveen Patnaik sought immediate steps to avert the looming crisis.

The MSME sector is a significant segment for the Eastern state providing lakhs of employment; hence this shortage challenges the viability of industries.

Satwik Swain, Secretary General of OASME pointed out that the coal shortage is continuing due to stopping or curtailment of coal supplies which creates bottlenecks for the local industries.

All the government efforts to support the industry haven’t really changed the situation, he added.

He has suggested immediate action for the resumption of coal and rake supplies from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited to help meet 100 pc coal requirements of the local CPP-based industries.