More than 2,500 employees of the Belgaum unit are dissatisfied as the smelter plant has been closed down since July 1996 due to lack of power. The employees are, thus, losing their productivity-linked allowance. Morever, the company has hired more than 1,300 people as contract workers in the last 20 years, who want to be on the rolls of the company.

The Indal Employees Union Belgaum unit, has therefore, threatened that they would launch a mass movement against the present "indecisive and lethargic" management.

On the contrary, the leader of CITU-led union in Calcutta Asim Dey has said that he will take the takeover battle to the highest courts of the land to thwart the takeover.

The employees of Belgaum unit of Indal were assured that the problemof power shortages would be rectified with the supply from Jindal Tracteble. However, the new power company from Jindals would need a long gestation period which would further delay the re-starting of the plant. Even as the unions managed to get power by making a plea to the government of Karnataka, Indal has failed to take any initiative. Union sources say that despite repeated pleas to the headquarters in Calcutta, Indal did not start the plant stating unviability of the Belgaum unit.