Coal news and updates

Villagers float firm to mine coal in Chhattisgarh

In an unprecedented move, around half-a-dozen villages in a Chhattisgarh district have floated a company to mine coal found in their land.

As many as 250 farmers in six villages in Raigarh district have handed over their lands to the newly-floated company, Geo Thermal Producers Company Limited (GTPCL), they have established, to launch a coal mining project in the area.

“Around 700 acres have so far been acquired by GTPCL from the local farmers to start the project. We are planning to launch the project on October 2, coinciding birth anniversary of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi,” self-styled chairman of the GTPCL Harihar Patel said on Monday.

Locals have been agitating for the past three years demanding ownership of coal resource found in their villages. They have launched “coal satyagraha” three years ago based on the theme “our land, our coal”.

According to Mr Patel, the newly-floated company would start mining of coal in the area from October 2 this year. The coal mined would be deposited in the local panchayat office.

“We will invite state mines department officials to fix royalty on our products and lift the coal by paying royalty fixed by the government”, he added.

“We will not be deterred by any punitive measure by the state government for mining coal and continue mining of coal in our land”, he added.

The company has in fact already started corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by imparting computer training to the local villagers. When contacted a senior district officer said, “We will invite the villagers for a dialogue on issue”.

source: http://www.asianage.com