Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (IANS): Union Coal Secretary Anil Swarup Monday said the state-owned Coal India Ltd. (CIL) would mine 1,000 million tonnes of coal by 2019 -- doubling its present production of 500 million tonnes.
"The CIL has set a target to explore 1,000 million tonnes coal from various coal mines. Presently, it is exploring 500 million tonnes," Swarup told media persons here after reviewing different projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL), a subsidiary of CIL, with the Odisha government officials.
The progress of 15 projects of MCL, including Angul-Sukinda common rail corridor, were reviewed at the meeting. The coal ministry has targeted completion of the railway line project through which coal will be transported to various industries by December 2017.
"We have set a deadline to complete the railway project by December 2017. In the initial phase, 30-35 million tonnes coal would be transported while it would be increased to 200 million tonnes by 2019. The progress of the project is satisfactory in the state," said the coal secretary.
Recently, the Container Corporation of India (Concor) decided to invest Rs.156 crore for 26 percent equity to participate in the Angul-Sukinda railway line project.
The project, being constructed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, will provide a rail link to the steel and power plants located in Angul, Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts.
Besides Concor, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Odisha Mining Corporation, JSPL and IDCO are the other stakeholders who have set up a special purpose vehicle Angul Sukinda Rail Line (ASRL) to develop the project.
Two other rail links being developed in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are important for coal transportation, said Swarup.
As the Odisha government has requested the Centre to provide coal blocks to state PSUs during allocation, the coal secretary said he will examine the proposal of the government.
The issues of environment and forest clearances were also discussed at the meeting. Odisha Chief Secretary G.C. Pati said the state government would provide all support to MCL for exploring 200 million tonnes from its present production of 110 million tonnes.
Pati also advised MCL authorities to prepare a comprehensive exit plan for exhausted coal mines involving the state government so that the area can be rehabilitated appropriately for creation of livelihood options and conservation of environment.
The meeting reviewed the projects like Kaniha Opencast Coal Mining Project, Ananta Opencast Expansion projects, Lingaraj Opencast project, Natraj Underground Mines, Gopal Prasad Opencast project, Talabira Opencast project, Kulda Opencast project, Hingula Opencast project phase - III, Bhubaneswari Opencast project, Balaram Opencast extension, Bharatpur Opencast expansion Phase-II & III, Sairamam Opencast project and Lajkura Opencast project, said a Odisha government press release.
The issues relating to exploration proposal of CMPDIL coal blocks in Odisha were also discussed in the meeting. There are near about 13 CMPDIL coal blocks in Angul, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts of Odisha State. The total forest area to be explored in these blocks is around 43 sq km.