MP now eyes another no-go area mine

The Madhya Pradesh government is eyeing Mara-II Mahan coal mines in the eastern corner of its map, as the power investors in the state have hit a roadblock at coal mines. In fact, authorities are seeking allocation of more coal mines to the state.

Officials note that Madhya Pradesh has “sufficient coal” to feed its own thermal power stations, but short supply of the combustible sedimentary rock has triggered a precarious situation at its power plants. Mara-II Mahan mines spread in a 59-sqkm of Singrauli district is awaiting forest clearance, as the pocket with an estimated reserve of 955 million tonnes of coal is in a no-go area.

Mara-II Mahan coal blocks were allotted in 2006 to National Capital Territory and Haryana Power Generation Company Ltd (HPGCL). No potential party evinced interest in the mines, according to highly placed state officials.

It was then that HPGCL and Indraprastha Power Generation Co Ltd of Delhi NCT administration jointly floated an entity. Thus was formed the Yamuna Coal Company Pvt Ltd, which aimed at the development of a Mara-II coal block.

“We want Mara-II Mahan mines to be allocated to us,” said a highly placed government insider. “We wrote to the central government in this regard, but there has been no response. We also spoke to Haryana and Delhi government — and are now convinced that they are not interested,” he told Business Standard. “We want more coal blocks of Madhya Pradesh be allocated to us to meet our coal shortage.”

On the other hand, Indraprastha has “moved ahead” and proposed a 4000-Mw pithead plant at the mines. “We want this coal block,” an insider in the company said.

A recently organised board meet went off without taking the issue of dropping the mines. “We are, in fact, aggressively pursuing the ministry of environment and forest to take up the matter for clearances.”

All this, when shortage of coal has forced Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board to shut its six units at three thermal power stations: Sanjay Gandhi, Sarni and Amarkantak. The state’s thermal power production capacity has been reduced by 1080 Mw due to outage and planned closure of thermal power stations.

Yesterday, Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board thermal power stations generated only 1,745 Mw of power. Today, the thermal capacity was in the range of 1,700 Mw to 1800 Mw. A recent cabinet meeting saw chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan deciding to put his demand for coal at this weekend’s National Development Council meet.