Bhubaneswar: The union coal and mines minister, Pralhad Joshi, called on Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, here on Friday. Joshi and Patnaik discussed about coal and mining sector problems of Odisha.
During the meeting, the chief minister reiterated the demands of the State government that the rates of royalty should be increased and the State government should get share from the green cess collected on coal by the Central government.
Patnaik pitched for allotment of coal blocks in favour of public sector mining companies for better distribution of the critical raw material.
Patnaik also urged the union minister to denotify the non coal bearing areas and to take up comprehensive development in the notified areas by Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd. (MCL).
The chief minister also stressed that the decisions of the RPDAC be quickly implemented by the MCL.
The union minister agreed to the need for comprehensive development of the coal mining areas with a joint concerted effort. Law and Order and R&R issues of coal mining areas were also discussed in the meeting.
Joshi broached the issue of law and order problem in MCL mining areas effecting productions.
The chief minister assured him peaceful mining and transportation of coal and land acquisition for new coal projects. He directed the concerned officers to look into the matter.
Odisha minister for steel & mines Prafulla Kumar Mallik, chief secretary Asit Tripathy, principal secretary home, Sanjeev Chopra, 5T secretary VK Pandian, chief minister’s chief adviser R Balakrishnan, Coal India Ltd. CMD and MCL CMD were present.
