NTPC to start coal mining at Dulanga block by March 2015

Cost of developing the coal block is estimated at Rs 1557 crore

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NTPC Ltd, the country's biggest power generator, hopes to start coal production from the allotted Dulanga block by March 2015.

With a mineable reserve of 152 million tonne, the Dulanga block located in the Ib valley coalfields, is linked to NTPC's 1600 Mw super thermal power station coming up at Darlipalli in Sundargarh district. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by 2018.

The cost of developing the coal block is estimated at Rs 1556.65 crore. So far, NTPC has spent Rs 76.92 crore on the coal mine project.

The coal block got in-principle environment clearance in March 2012. Final green clearance is expected after receipt of Stage-I forest clearance.

Development of the coal mine needs 464.15 acres of private land. Notification under Section 11 of Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development)- CBA Act, 1957 has been issued. Land rates have been finalized and disbursement of compensation would commence after approval from the NTPC board.

Similarly, development of township, rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R) colony and necessary infrastructure needs another 410.07 acres of land. The state revenue & disaster management department has approved the proposal to issue notification under Section (7) for R&R colony, CISF colony and infrastructure area. Proposal for Section 4 (1) notification for 210.63 acres to dump overburden is being processed by the state government.

Requirement of government land for the coal block is 432.21 acres out of which an amount of Rs 17.65 crore has been deposited with the tahsildar office for 263.23 acres.

Forest land of 794.13 acres also needs to be diverted for the coal mine project. Acquisition of forest land will be initiated after receipt of Stage-II forest clearance from the Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) and subsequent permission from the state government for tree felling.

It may be noted that the Ministry of Coal (MoC) recently sought explanation from NTPC in respect of slow progress in developing the Dulanga coal block.

The notice to NTPC was on the basis of a review by the inter-ministerial group mandated to look into the development of allocated coal blocks and associated end-use projects and to recommend action, including de-allocation, if required.

The IMG observed that many critical milestones were still pending for developing the coal mine.