Priority to fresh application of state PSUs, says Jaiswal

After turning down the request of the Odisha government to reconsider the decision to de-allocate three coal blocks distributed to state PSUs, Union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, on Tuesday, said the ministry will give special attention to the demand of the state for grant of other coal mines.

“A committee has been formed to screen the applications for new coal blocks. If we receive any application sent by Odisha, then we will give special attention to it. And if Odisha agrees to fulfill all conditions, then we will allocate the coal mines,” he told news persons at state Congress headquarter here.

The Union coal ministry has so far canceled three coal blocks allotted to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) citing delay in developing these mines. While the state has requested the ministry to reconsider the decision, it has decided that the state PSUs will file fresh applications for allocation of other coal mines.

As per the decision, while OMC will apply for Kudanali-Luburi coal block, with reserve of 396.1 million tonne, three other PSUs — Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), Odisha Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (OTPCL) and OHPC will apply for reserves at Chandrabila, Tentuloi and Sarapal-Nuapada respectively.

Reacting to the comment of Odisha steel and mines minister about the Centre’s apathy towards industrialisation in the state, Jaiswal said that the central government has never adopted such attitude.

“The UPA government is committed to the industrialization and development of Odisha,” he said.

The minister, who was on a two-day trip to the state to review the performance of Mahandi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), said, he was satisfied with the operational efficiency of the Coal India Ltd (CIL) subsidiary.

“MCL has met our expectation on coal output. We have not raised output target though the company was able to exceed target for the year (2012-13),” said the minister.