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Odisha to earn over Rs 45,600 crore from coal block auction: Piyush Goyal

Affirming NDA-led Centre's resolve to maintain transparency in coal mine allocation, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said Odisha is set to gain over Rs 45,600 crore from the current phase of coal block auction.

"Mineral-rich Odisha will benefit immensely from the process of coal block auction. The state is all set to earn over Rs 45,600 crore after the present phase of coal mine auction," he said here during his maiden visit to Odisha as a Union Minister.

The Union Minister was speaking at a function where Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of Mahanadi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MIMSR), a Rs 492 crore CSR project of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), in Talcher Coalfields of Odisha.

Claiming that coal mines were earlier being allocated free of cost in an arbitrary manner, Goyal said the Narendra Modi government has introduced e-auction route, making allocation of coal blocks an entirely transparent affair.

Seeking cooperation of the state for proper implementation of various central projects, the Union Minister announced that MCL would bear the medical expenses of all freedom fighters in Odisha.

Laying the foundation stone for MIMSR, Chief Minister Patnaik said the state has provided 20 acres of land free of cost for setting up of the institute by MCL.

Other CPSUs like NALCO and should also take quick steps for setting up such medical institutes  and hospitals as part of their CSR activities, Patnaik said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the NDA government was keen to work in coordination with the state government to ensure speedy and balanced development of Odisha.

sources: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com