Requirment of obtaining NOC from Neyveli Lignite Corpn to continue

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) The Coal Ministry today said it was not considering any proposal to scrap the requirement of obtaining No Objection Certificate(NOC) from Neyveli Lignite Corporation(NLC) for operating in a lignite block.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in the Ministry of Coal Dasari Narayan Rao said the provision of obtaining NOC from NLC was introduced keeping in view the future plans of the corporation for development so that resources are put to use in a planned and scientific manner.

He aaid NLC was a major public sector producer of lignite based power, and in addition to the existing mining and power generation activities in Tamil Nadu, the company was expanding its operations in Rajasthan.

So it has been provided that a state government company or undertaking shall obtain a certificate from the NLC to the effect that they have no plan or wilingness to undertake mining operation in the lignite block concerned, said Mr Rao.

Replyinmg to a supplementary, he said the reports that NLC was importing lignite was not true and there was no proposal either to do so.

UNI NAZ MSJ DB1432