Foreign Consuls concerned about Deocha Pachami coal mining project

Discomfort stems from Bengal govt's plans to develop what could world's second largest coal mine amid a call for phasing down the fuel at COP26

The West Bengal government’s proposed coal mining project – Deocha Pachami, considered to be one of the largest blocks in the world – has caught the attention of foreign consuls in the wake of COP26 outcomes that included a call for phasing down coal.

“We read over the last few weeks about the West Bengal government’s plans to develop what is believed to be the world's second largest coal mine, which makes (it) slightly uncomfortable,” said Nick Low, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, at a FICCI State Council Meeting.

“It was something we did not really discuss in Cop26,” he said. Addressing West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) chairman, Rajiva Sinha, who was present at the meet, he further said, “It is about 2.1 billion tonne of coal as per government figures…there is a lot of coal out there..I don’t expect you to answer, but it would be really useful if there is a presentation on that specific project because I think, there will be a lot of interest as we try and transition to an economy away from fossil fuels.”

Sharing Low’s concern, Manfred Auster, Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany said, “The other one under the SDGs (sustainable development goals) is the climate crisis and here I share Nick’s concern about the exploitation of fossil fuels and we are looking forward to seeing what can be done to develop in a sustainable and green way."

“My sense is that my new government ... will be putting more emphasis on the environment and the fight against the climate crisis. Therefore, I guess all sectors that will help overcome that crisis are those that we should try to attract in West Bengal for various reasons,” he added.

The concerns come on the back of the state government’s initiative to take up the coal mining project. Earlier this month, Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, announced a massive Rs 10,000 crore rehabilitation and resettlement package for those affected by it.

The coal block – allocated by the Central government a few years ago to West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) – has around 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million cubic metres of basalt/black stone.

Rowan Ainsworth, Consul General, Consulate of Australia, however, said, “We have a lot of companies that support the mining sector, which has a high technology in terms of meeting environmental requirements and that is an area that we are working with India and our companies are working on.”

Sinha in his closing remarks, however, pointed out that the COP26 could not come to a consensus on fossil fuels and certain other things. So, it will be too ambitious for us to say that we will be moving ahead of them or along with them. “We are waiting and watching to see as to what is happening."

Some of the foreign consuls, while lauding the state government initiatives in social sector development, also raised the issue of perception around Bengal with regard to investment and industry.

Sinha said, the first term of the government was focused on infrastructure, the second term on social sector and the third term would be a combination of both. “At the same time, the priority in this term is industry.”