After long talks on coal supply, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached Raipur on Friday and held a long meeting with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel.
After the meeting, Baghel told reporters that the Rajasthan Chief Minister expressed concern over the supply of coal and said that there is a long standing dialogue between the Center and the Rajasthan government as well. He said that the Rajasthan government was allotted the coal block in Chhattisgarh as per the rules of the Center and the process is going on as per the law.
Baghel clarified that the mines belong to the Chhattisgarh government but the allocation of coal stock is done by the Centre. He said that even his government gets the stock through the allocation mechanism of the Centre.
Baghel clarified that due legal process would be followed and local concerns, especially those related to environment, would be taken care of. Baghel said keeping this in mind the Lemru Elephant Sanctuary was to be set up in the northern part of the state and an area of 1,995 sq km was notified to protect the environment, biodiversity and the Hasdeo Bango Dam.
He said that 39 coal blocks, including two given to the Chhattisgarh government, are within the limits of the reserve.
Rajasthan government corporations had won several coal blocks in Chhattisgarh in the past in the Centre’s bid, but several environmental groups are opposing these mining activities, citing damage to local biodiversity in the Hasdeo reserve and other areas.
Responding to Baghel’s statement, Gehlot said that he appreciates the environmental concerns cited by Baghel but the Center allocates these coal blocks to the states after due evaluation. “We are seeking supplies from Parsa East and Kanta Basan blocks and the new 5 million tonne block at Parsa,” Gehlot said. The Rajasthan government faces a possible blackout due to short supply of coal to power plants producing 4500 MW of electricity. The Chhattisgarh government does not cooperate.
The Rajasthan chief minister termed the possible coal blackout as a serious issue and said that is the reason why he visited the state in the hope that Chhattisgarh would take a decision at the earliest. “We had appealed earlier also, but there may be some compulsion, which compelled you not to accept the arguments,” he said.
Gehlot has been pushing Baghel for early approval for the two coal blocks allotted to his government in Chhattisgarh for the past two years, even seeking the intervention of the Center and the Congress high command.
Gehlot, in a letter to Baghel in 2020, urged the latter to expedite various approvals for early development of ‘Parsa’ and ‘Kaante Extension’ coal blocks and continued operation of Parsa East and Kante Basan (PEKB) blocks, So that RVUNL can meet the fuel requirement. of the state. “The state has invested over Rs 40,000 crore in setting up thermal power stations. These coal blocks meet most of the coal requirements of the current and upcoming Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited power stations and are essential for ensuring fuel security in the form of uninterrupted supply of coal for power generation for the state,” he wrote.
The coal blocks, Parsa, Parsa East, Kante Basan and Kante Extension are located in Surguja, Chhattisgarh. Three of these were allotted to Rajasthan in 2014, but locals have opposed the move as the area comes under the Hasdeo Arand forest area. Tribal rights groups are opposing mining activities in Hasdeo Reserve, a centuries-old natural forest rich in biodiversity.
According to officials, the first phase of mining started in 2013 on 762 hectares of land in Parsa East and Kante Basan (PEKB) blocks allotted to RVUNL in 2007. Two other blocks- Parsa and Kante Extension blocks were allotted in 2015. Rajasthan Power Utility is seeking to start mining operations for the second phase in PEKB.
RVUNL had received forest clearance from the central government for mining in the second phase of PEKB and Parsa blocks, and further necessary approvals are under consideration before the Chhattisgarh government.
The development of Kante Extension is stalled due to lack of public hearing, residents of the villages of these two blocks have been opposing mining for a long time.
(with inputs PTI)
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