Coal news and updates

Facing hurdles in projects for transporting coal: Rlys to govt

today informed the Union Cabinet about the difficulties it is facing in sticking to the timeline for the completion of three crucial rail link projects in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

In order to evacuate and transport about 300 million tonnes of coal from the mines to industries, Coal Ministry had last year approached the Prime Minister's Office for expediting the three rail projects -- two in Jharkhand, one in Chhattisgarh.

The three rail links, planned with a view to solving the problem of coal availability in the country, are expected to facilitate the movement every year of around 300 million tonnes of the valuable mineral.

The rail corridors include Tori-Shivpuri-Kathotia in North Karanpura in Jharkhand and Bhupdeopur-Korichhaapar to Mand Raigadh mines in Chhattisgarh.

At the Cabinet meeting, the problems on the ground were explained like delay in getting land acquisition and forest clearances from the state governments, sources in railways said.

Earlier, the PMO had ordered Railways to execute the three projects within three years of the necessary clearances being obtained.

"Besides, law and order problems are also there... So, it is unlikely that the projects would be completed in time," they added.

Source: