Rajasthan's thermal power plants will get coal from Chhattisgarh | 08 Apr 2022

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam has got clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Chhattisgarh to start mining work in Parsa coal block located in Surguja, Chhattisgarh. As soon as coal mining starts in this new block, additional coal will be available for thermal power plants of the state.

Key Points

  • It is noteworthy that on March 25, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with Energy Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati and officials urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to give early permission to start coal mining in Parsa coal block and Parsa East Kanta Basan coal block in the second phase.
  • The Chhattisgarh government gave permission for the second phase of coal mining of Parsa East Kanta Basan coal block on the very next day, while on April 6, the state's new coal block, Parsa coal block, was also allowed for coal mining.
  • Instructions have been given to Vidyut Utpadan Nigam to complete the necessary preparations for coal mining at the earliest and necessary preparations have been started.
  • ACS Mines, Petroleum and Energy Dr. Subodh Agrawal informed that 841.538 hectare area was allotted by the Central Government to Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam in Chhattisgarh's Sarguja Parsa coal block in 2015. Mining work will be done in this new block after getting clearance from the Central Government and Chhattisgarh Government.
  • When coal production will start from this new Parsa coal block, the state will get about 2.7 rakes of coal per day. According to an estimate, this block is expected to produce 5 million tonnes of coal per annum. One thousand rakes of coal will be available annually from this new block.
  • It is worth mentioning that the state government was facing a coal crisis due to almost exhaustion of coal in phase one in Parsa East and Kanta basin. Clearance of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department has also been received in the 1136 hectare forest land of the second phase of Parsa East Kanta Basin.