State can expects Rs 18,880 crore from coal mining in next 4 years
Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi today met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to resolve the issues flared up following state government’s reservation over commercial coal mining.
Jharkhand government had moved the apex court challenging the Centre’s decision to auction coal blocks for commercial mining. It said the state was not taken into confidence for the e-auction of 9 coal blocks.
“The meeting was positive,” Joshi told reporters stating that he had pleaded to the Chief Minister to cooperate for the commercial coal mining. The minister said the state could fetch an expected Rs 18800 crore over next four years from coal mining in the state.
Jharkhand is the only state where three companies of the Coal India Limited (CIL) namely CCL (Central Coalfields Ltd), BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Ltd) and ECL (Eastern Coalfields Ltd) are engaged in mining. The three companies are expected to extract 742 million tonne (MT) of coal in the next 4 years, paying revenue of almost Rs 18,889 crore, Joshi said.
“We deliberated on early resolution of issues to support mining activities in the State,” Joshi said. There were issues related to land acquisition, transport and royalty, he said, adding that it had been resolved after discussion.
The coal minister announced that the state government would get compensation for the land according to guidance value of agriculture land. The rate would be applicable for both acquired and the land already in possession of the CIL.
“To start with, we have handed over cheques of Rs 298 crore to the Jharkhand government,” the minister said.
The coal minister had reached Raipur and would hold a meeting with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to discuss about the commercial mining of coal.
