Odisha's coal revenue slides as MCL struggles to meet output target

MCL may not be able to meet 167 mn tonne output due to sporadic halt in work at key mines

After posting a consistent rise in four years from 2012-13 to 2015-16, coal royalty collection in Odisha has witnessed a slide in this fiscal, with Coal India's biggest producing subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) struggling to meet its targeted coal production.

Coal revenue collection in the state in Odisha was Rs 1,384.52 crore by the end of February. Last fiscal, the royalty collection stood at Rs 1627.27 crore. Royalty collection from coal has progressively rose from Rs 1,245.24 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 1,378.58 crore in 2013-14 and to Rs 1439.17 crore in 2014-15.

MCL has a target to produce 167 million