India has enough coal reserves to last for 50 years: Union Minister
Jaipur (Rajasthan), October 13: Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi stated on Thursday that India has enough coal reserves to last 50 years, with 8 million tonnes of stock available at present.
Joshi's statements came during a meeting between Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RUVNL) and the Union Ministry of Coal's Coal India Limited. The event was attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Joshi stated that the rail-sea route is now being prioritised for coal transportation in order to shorten transportation time.
"Under this MoU, Coal India will set up a solar project of 1190 MW capacity in Rajasthan. There will be an investment of more than 5 thousand crores in this. At the same time, the company will give Rs 2 crore annually to Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam for the operation and maintenance of the solar park. At the same time, Coal India Limited will have to set up this project in the next 2 years," a release read.
"Rajasthan Government has given the responsibility of developing 2000 MW Solar Park to Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam. For this, the Gehlot government has allotted 4846 hectares of land in Poogal, Bikaner. In the solar park, a solar project of 810 MW capacity will be set up by the production corporation itself. While the 1190 MW solar project will be set up by Coal India Limited," it added.
In the event, Ashok Gehlot and Prahlad Joshi both praised each other. Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi called Gehlot the country's most senior leader.
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Joshi stated, "Due to some reason coal is blocked from the allotted coal mines in Parsa East and Kanta Basan in Chhattisgarh to Rajasthan. The Government of India is also making efforts for this, but Chief Minister Gehlot should also talk to the Chhattisgarh government."
Joshi stated that, despite the recommendation of the Chhattisgarh government, the mine allotment will not be cancelled and that the sides will work together to fix the situation.
Pramod Agarwal, Chairman of CIL, and Rajesh Kumar Sharma, CMD of RRVUN signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the proposed project.
Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Minister of State for Power, Usha Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Dr AK Jain, and other officials were present on this occasion.
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-PTC News
