Rajasthan asks CoalMin to expedite coal blocks allotment

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister AshokGehlot has asked Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal to expediteallotment of captive coal blocks to the power projects beingset up in the state.

The Chief Minister, who met Jaiswal here yesterday,also asked the Coal Minister that the coal blocks to bealloted to Rajasthan in Chattisgath be kept aside from no-gozone for mining so that the state gets constant supply andwork related to power plants could be completed on time, anofficial statement said.

The chief minister informed Jaiswal that the energyministry has already sent across its consent to the coalministry regarding the coal-linkage to the desert state.

Jaiswal assured Gehlot that the government is trying itsbest to provide the required help to Rajasthan and proceduresregarding coal-linkage, coal-blocks and other pending mattersare expected to be set out soon.

The work of two super critical power plants at Suratgarhand Chhabra -- each having a capacity of 1320 MW -- is to becompleted by the state government while super critical powerplant in Banswara having a capacity of 1320 MW would beundertaken in private sector, Gehlot said.

"Immediate allotment of coal-linkage for these powerplants is must," Gehlot stressed.

Gehlot also discussed the status of pending powerprojects and the environmental clearances for the same. Hesaid that the super critical power plants to be developed inthe state would get the required environmental clearance ifcoal ministry allots coal-linkage.

He added that if coal is supplied permanently from thecoal-blocks allotted in Chhattisgarh, it would be helpful incompleting the remaining work of Kali Sindh and Chhabra powerplants, each having a capacity of 1700-1700 MW.

"More than 70-80 per cent work has been completed inthese power plants and the target has been fixed as March 2012to complete the work for these projects," Gehlot said. PTISID