Published: April 28, 2017 |

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Bengal is set to develop the country’s largest coal mine in Birbhum district, with the Center allotting the development rights for the Deocha-Pachami coal block to the state under the government route.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that her government was drawing up a Rs 12,000-crore plan to develop the block, which would create one lakh jobs and usher in rapid economic development in the area.

Addressing a public function at Kenduli on January 18, 2016, the chief minister had said the block will produce coal worth Rs 2.10 lakh crore and attract total investments of Rs 22,000 crore.

The block is located in the southwestern part of Birbhum coalfields, adjoining the Dewanganj block. It is spread over an area of 9.7 sq km and estimated to have in-place reserves of 2,102 million tonnes.

The block was originally offered jointly to West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, UP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and SJVNL (formerly Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd).

None, however, showed any interest in developing the block in the last three years or so, prompting Mamata to seek sole operatorship.

The Center responded to Mamata’s demand by setting up an inter-ministerial committee to examine her proposal. After two years of deliberations, the Center has now agreed to allow Bengal to develop the mine.

Mamata has already put in place a SPV (special purpose vehicle) — Bengal Birbhum Coalfields Ltd (BBCL) — for developing the block.

Source: (April 11, 2017) The Times Of India

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