MCL produces 88.011 MT coal in 2007-2008

Angul, Apr 15 (UNI) Setting at rest all speculations, the public sector Mahanadi Coal Field Limited (MCL) has finally produced targeted coal to the tune of 88.011 million tonnes during 2007-2008.

The company had set a target to produce 99 million tonnes during the current fiscal, according to MCL Chairman-Cum Managing Director Sriramji Upadyaya here today.

The coal production during 2006-07 stood at 80.0001 million tonnes, almost contributing about 43 per cent growth of Coal India Limited (CIL).

Out of about 18.5 million tonnes growth of CIL in the last financial year, MCL alone shared eight million tonnes of coal among the eight subsidiaries.

The coal dispatch from the MCL stood at 83.6 million tonnes and over burden removal (top soil removal) stood at 54.million cubic mt against the target of 88.001 mt and 66 Million cubic mt respectively.

With nine open cast and two under ground mines, the Talcher Coalfield of MCL was behind the annual target of 58.3 million tonnes.

It produced 53.67 million tonnes in the last fiscal.

On the other hand, the IB valley coalfield having five open cast and five underground mines crossed the target by producing 27.8 million tonnes against the target of 26.7 million tonnes, official sources said.

Basaundhara and Garjanbahal areas at Sundergarh district recorded an output of 6.5 million tonnes against the target of three million ton.

The total coal production from open cast mines of the company touched to 85.89 million tonnes, while underground coal production was at more than two million tonnes.

The highest coal production came from Jaganath area at Talcher coalfield with recording of 18.3 million ton surpassing the target of 17 million tonnes.

Lakahanpur area of IB valley coalfield stood second highest with 15.2 million tonnes followed by Hingula area with 14.8 million tonnes.

MCL official source said the target achievement was almost an impossible task for the authorities when by October 20 last the company was trailing behind negative growth.

The production however picked up on positive growth towards the end of October but got setback in month of February when private transport drivers resorted to five days strike hampering both output and dispatch at Talcher coalfield.

The coal output from Talcher was affected following recurrent obstruction by villagers.

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