Kaniha Open cast coal mine to start production this year

Angul, Aug 30 (UNI) The 10 MTPA capacity Kaniha Open cast coal mine located close to NTPC-Talcher Super Thermal Power Station is all likely to start operation by December next.

The coal project though envisaged to cater to the needs of the growing demands of NTPC plant could not be initiated even as the expansion of the NTPC power project was completed three years ago.

The vexed land acquisition process, sources said, was now at an advanced stage with majority of the affected tenants receiving the compensation money.

According to officials from Mahanadi Coalfield Limited(MCL), the Rehabilitation and Resettlement issues would be addressed in two to three months after which the mine would be opened.

Three mega open cast coal projects namely Kaniha (10 MTPA), Kulda (10 MTPA) and Bhubaneswari (20 MTPA) of MCL were approved by the Union Cabinet in 2004.

Among these only Bhubaneswari became operational in March last.

Kaniha mine, sources said, was considered crucial for meeting the present fuel requirement of NTPC. This would be the first coal mine in Kaniha, which had received the environmental clearance for its first stage of 3.5 million tonne in 2002.

Under the Central Coal Bearing Act (CBA), 1498 acre of land of all kinds had been vested with MCL for mining operation and another patch of 1907 acre were in the process of acquisition under the Central act.

A total of eight villages would be affected out of which three villages namely Jarada, Adaityaprasad and Jamania would be totally displaced in first place.

Other villages affected by the coal project were Patharmunda, Telisinga, Kansamunda, Jaipur and Kaniha. MCL officials were very much optimistic that the job demands of the affected families would be settled as per the state Rehabilitation Policy, 1989.

UNI