Coal news and updates

The state government on Thursday urged the Centre to increase the royalty on coal which is pending since May 2015.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who met Union coal minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, said royalty on coal was last revised in May 2013. The rate of royalty, which is 14 per cent at present, is supposed to be revised in every three years, said an official statement.

Stating that the coal bearing states face the adverse effects of coal mining such as displacement of people, environment pollution and reduction in forest area, Naveen also demanded to share 60 per cent of total amount collected under the National Clean Energy Fund (NCCF) among the coal bearing state.

The chief minister demanded to sanction 75 per cent of funds for pump storage hydroelectric projects from the NCCF. He said the hydroelectric power plants above 25MW including pump storage plants may be considered as renewable energy projects.

Sorce: TOI