State seeks MCL aid to develop infrastructure in coalfields

With a host of virgin coal blocks allocated to state PSUs and private entities in Odisha, the state government has sought the participation of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) for preparation of comprehensive master plan (CMP) to develop common infrastructure and building of rail-road corridors.

The CMPs and transport corridors to evacuate coal are being planned for Talcher and Ib valley coalfields in the state. While Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has been roped in to design the CMPs, RITES, the consultancy arm of Railways was to work out alignment for the proposed rail corridors.

 

"MCL being the lead company in coal sector in Odisha- its direct involvement and participation in preparation of the CMPs and rail-road corridor projects for both the coalfields is essential. It is hoped that cooperation of MCL will be available to CMPDI and RITES in preparation of the CMPs and rail-road corridor projects of both the coalfields in the state”, DK Singh, secretary (steel & mines) said in a letter to MCL CMD A N Sahay.

In this respect, the steel & mines department has called a meeting on June 5 to review the status of all 31 coal blocks allocated by Ministry of Coal and also CMPs as well as common rail-road corridors planned for the two coal belts.As many as 44 players have been allocated coal blocks in Talcher coalfields whereas 16 others have won blocks in the Ib valley region. Apart from state owned PSUs-Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), PSUs of other states like Gujarat, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been allocated coal blocks.

Among the corporate players that have been alloted captive blocks include Hindalco Industries, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, National Aluminium Company (Nalco), ArcelorMittal, GMR Energy and National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) to name a few.

In the absence of comprehensive and integrated planning and lack of infrastructural facilities, the new coal blocks in the green field areas could not be developed.

"Land being a limited and non-renewable resource of the state, planned and integrated development of the coal projects is an essential requirement for sustainable development of both the coalfields. Hence, an integrated and coordinated approach is required to deal with such a situation for development of new coal projects in both the coalfields”, the letter added.

Meanwhile, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (Idco) and OMC are going to form a special purpose vehicle- Mahanadi Railways for developing a common corridor for rail, water and power in the coal rich Angul-Chhendipada-Talcher region. The development of the 143-km corridor is estimated to cost Rs 5000 crore and it is expected to handle coal traffic in excess of 100 million tonnes annually.