Nitish writes to PM to protest rejection of coal linkages

"It is a matter of great disappointment that the Ministry of Coal has in a routine manner summarily rejected the demand for coal linkages to the state government-owned Barauni thermal power station expansion project," he said.

Kumar alleged that the Ministry of Coal has never been positive to the state government's demand for coal linkage despite repeated request for the same and quoted the latter's letter dated June 18 last.

The Ministry of Coal has rejected the demand for coal linkage for Barauni thermal power station expansion project on untenable grounds referring only to the Ministry of Power's recommendations in the past and conveniently ignoring the same department's request for granting coal linkage as a special case in a letter dated March 12, 2006, the Chief Minister said.

Linking of demand for coal linkage for Barauni thermal power station expansion project to the coal block allocation and coal linkage granted to the three NTPC power projects in Bihar is uncalled for keeping in mind the acute power shortage scenario in Bihar, he said and charged the Ministry of Coal with failing to appreciate the sensitivity of the issue.