NTPC to start production from Pakri Barwadih project next year

The NTPC will start production from Pakri Barwadih Coal Mining Project from next year, a senior company official said here today.

"After starting the project, coal produced from the mine will be transferred to railway yard at Banadag through the elevator conveyor system," A Upendra Rao, the General Manager of the NTPC's Coal Mining Project, told a news conference here.

On transfer of coal through elevator conveyor system, covering a distance of 13 km from the mine to Banadag Coal Yard near NH-100, about 10 KM away from Hazaribagh, he said the 18 feet high elevator was being constructed in two phases.

"Contracts for work for the first phase costing Rs 450 crore has already been awarded. Work order will be signed for the second phase very soon," he added.

He said transferring the coal from mines through the elevator conveyor was to save the forests in the area.

The Pakri Barwadih Coal Mining Project would follow the latest techniques of coal mining and after completion of the work it would produce 15 million tonnes of coal every year for feeding various thermal power projects taken up by the NTPC for augmenting power generation to overcome power shortage, he said.

The NTPC, he added, would provide infrastructure facilities in its project area at Barkagon and Keredari for which the company would spend Rs 120 crore to construct community halls, hospitals and schools.