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New Delhi: Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal on Tuesday assured Odisha Energy Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo that the ministry would try to allocate coal blocks to Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) on priority basis.
“I have assured the minister (Sahoo) that we'll allocate more and more blocks to Odisha on priority basis. Since the three coal blocks which have been decided for commercial mining are yet to be allocated, I have asked officials to allocate Odisha's coal block to the State only,” Jaiswal said.
Sahu called on the Union minister and apprised him of the acute shortage of coal for power generation.
“Even as 10.77 per cent of coal reserves of the State have been allocated to private companies, 6.38 per cent have been allotted to other state PSUs and 32.15 per cent have been given to Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coal,” Sahoo said.
When asked about Jaiswals’ comment on allocation of Chandrabila coal block in Talcher to OPGC, he said, “The ministry will look into it.”
Earlier in the first week of this month, the Centre has allocated 14 coal blocks to state-run companies, to cater to 31,800 MW power generation capacity envisaged to be set up at an investment of Rs 1,60,000 crore.
State-run OPGC on Saturday released work order worth over Rs 5,500 crore to BHEL and BGR Energy Systems for its expansion project at Banaharpali in Jharsuguda district. The work involves commissioning of two more thermal units (Unit 3 and 4) of 660MW each.
