Team News Riveting
Raipur, January 8
The decision of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to ban coal transportation by road would have severe impact in the industrial belt of Raigarh.
As per the order, Coal Transportation has to be carried out either through Conveyor or Railway wagons, with effect from February 27, 2021. The decision would directly impact the operational feasibility of the power plants in the area and would adversely affect the development and expansion of existing coal Projects in the Gharghoda-Tamnar blocks, adding to the already declining trend of power production in the state.
The move of the green panel came at a time industry was on a recovery trajectory after combating COVID-19 pandemic that crippled the economy globally. While the entire Nation suffered from its impact, it hit almost every industry. As if the Pandemic was not enough, the district has been hit by a Tsunami—the NGT order prohibiting movement of Coal by road.
In the absence of proper laid out railway tracks or Conveyor Belt facilities in the Tamnar, Gharghoda and Punjipathra, many small and medium industries that had been dependent on Coal as their primary fuel would be impacted. Such impositions would come as a huge blow to their existence and the crisis would further trigger a halt in the sustenance of such industries and employment thereof.
Given that the zone is an Industrial belt and a prospective mining region, it offers livelihood options to many daily wage earners.
Since the nation is traversing through an economic meltdown, the NGT might come with a mutual win-win recommendation that would help industries in the Raigarh belt to continue contributing to the growth of the area, the state and the country.
