MCL exploring use of OB dump for solar power

Union Coal secretary Susheel Kumar today said Mahanadi Coalfield Limited has been exploring the idea to use the stabilized over burden(OB) dump to install solar panels and generate solar power.
He said this while responding to a question on the possibility of venturing into tapping of 2 MW solar power by MCL.
However, he denied any plans of MCL to go into mining of quartz for commercial use which is found in abundance in Odisha.
Expressing his satisfaction over the MLC's achievements, Kumar said that a target has been set to produce 100 million tonne of coal annually only from Ib Valley and Badundhata area of MCL by 2020-21 and 150 million tonnes by 2023-24.

Stating that coal has become essential for industries and growth of the country, Kumar said they are preparing strategies to meet the demand.
On dispatch of coal, he said that while the time frame to complete the laying of railway track from Jharsuguda to Sardega in Sundargarh has been fixed at December 2017, the doubling of the line will be complete by 1019-20. Plans have been mooted to connect Sardega with Palma in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, a distance of 30 kms with railway line.
He said that there were issues of rehabilitation of displaced people. This problem has been affecting production of coal and he has apprised about it to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Odisha chief secretary during his meeting with them.

He said that while MCL is getting due co-operation in Jharsuguda district but the support and co-operation extended in some areas like Talcher is inadequate.