BHUBANESWAR: Work was affected in almost all Central Government offices and establishments across Orissa on Friday as activists of various Central trade unions and political parties staged demonstrations opposing the Centre's decision to disinvest 10 per cent of shares in the National Aluminium Company (Nalco). The strike passed off peacefully.

With thousands of Nalco workers participating in the day-long strike called by seven Central trade unions, production of alumina and aluminium was affected in the company's smelter at Angul in Angul district and in the bauxite mines at Damanjodi in Koraput district. Work was also disrupted in the company's power plant at Angul.

Work was affected in the company's corporate office here, as officers and workers abstained from duty. Party activists and trade union members staged demonstrations outside the office.

With slogan-shouting agitators squatting on rail tracks, train services were hit. Movement of coal was also affected as workers in the industrial areas in and around Angul joined the agitation, bringing the trains to a complete halt.

Though protesters forcibly shut down many Central Government offices, life was normal outside, barring in a few industrial hubs. State Government offices and educational institutions functioned normally in most parts of the State.

The CPI (M), the CPI, the Orissa Gana Parishad, the Janata Dal (S) and the Samajwadi Party were among those who participated. Workers of the ruling Biju Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party also joined the strike, urging the UPA Government to withdraw its decision.

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