SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 13: Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi today reached Dhanbad on a two-day tour to assess the rehabilitation of Jharia mines fire-affected residents and review coal production in Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL).
While talking to media persons at BCCL headquarters Koyla Bhawan, the Coal Minister said that on the directive of the Prime Minister, the coal ministry is working on increasing the production of coking coal in the country.
Production of coal has increased in the country in recent years. At present production has reached around 1000 million tons and in the near future production of coking would be increased more.
Pralhad Joshi rejected the charge of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the NITI Aayog meeting that the central government is sitting on coal royalty of Jharkhand. “Central government pays coal royalty to the state government per month on a priority basis,” said the Union Minister.
He said that during his two-day visit, he would review the coal production with officials of BCCL and ECL. He would also discuss the rehabilitation of residents living in dangerous Jharia mines fire and assess the mining of coal in the fire zone area. Over 1.4 lakh families including land owners are living in the fire zone area of Jharia and have been surveyed for rehabilitation.
He would also visit the identified 81 fire spots in the colliery and new projects being launched by the BCCL for increasing production.
Earlier. the coal minister reached Koyla Nagar along with Coal India Limited (CIL) chairman PM Prasad in the afternoon and paid tributes to miners at Shahid Smarak.
