Coal news and updates

The Sundargarh administration and the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) have decided to expedite the coal corridor project in Hemgir block of Sundargarh district.

 

Sources said following Orissa High Court’s stern instruction, RDC (North) Pramod Meherda, MCL CMD AN Sahay and Sundargarh Collector Bhupendra Singh Poonia decided to expedite the project.

 

However, given the complex technicalities and slow pace of work, it will not be before five years that the coal corridor project will see light of the day.

 

The Collector said a survey has been undertaken and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected by May 20 following which land acquisition would be made and the Public Works Department will execute the projects.

 

In 2012, a PIL was filed by a local resident in the High Court to expedite the project and the court accepted a contempt petition in 2013. Consequently, the MCL signed an MoU with the Odisha Government. 

 

Sources said the much awaited coal corridor proposal of 33 km from Basundhara to Bhedabahal connecting State Highway 10 envisages shielding a vast rural population from accident hazards and dust pollution.

 

MCL’s Basudhara-Garjanbahal (B-G) Area General Manager AK Singh said the PSU has approved in principle `385 crore for the coal corridor project and deposited `4.38 crore towards preliminary cost. He said the MCL has separately earmarked `164 crore to four-lane the 25 km stretch from Kanika to Duduka and `18 crore to lay Ujjjalpur bypass.

 

Kulda and Basundhara open cast projects of MLC in Sundargarh, about 145 km from Rourkela, collectively produce 17 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The opening of Garjanbahal open cast mines is expected to add another 10 MTPA next year.  About 5,000 heavy coal-laden vehicles ply through Ujjalpur, Tangarpali, Chhatenpali, Duduka, Balinga, Bandhapali and Mahulpali causing massive dust pollution and posing environmental hazards.

 

Recently, the district administration banned movement of multi-axle coal transport vehicles between Bankibahal and Kanika in day time.

 

Diversion of forest land also involves complex procedures and major portion of the land falling on the route of the linear coal corridor project is forest land.

 

 

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/