Union Coal Minister, Jharkhand CM Hemant meet to resolve contentious issues on mines

Coal minister announces of priority to locals in tenders up to  one crore in mines 

Ranchi, Nov 13: Union coal and mines minister Pralhad Joshi and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Saturday held a meeting at Ranchi in presence of senior bureaucrats and Coal India officials.

In this meeting, especially the Rajmahal-, Taljhari coal project, Hurra coal project, Sial coal project were discussed in detail about the difficulties and problems faced in making its operational and its solution. Apart from this, there was also a discussion regarding the auction of mines in Jharkhand.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren shared opinion regarding land acquisition for coal mines, non payment of compensation to original land holders, delay in rehabilitation of displaced people and jobs and revenue to the government.

The Union Coal Minister told the Chief Minister that whatever is the demand of the State Government regarding coal mining, the Central Government will take necessary action after discussing it.

 There was discussions on the issue of making Rajmahal – Taljhari, Hurra and Sial Coal project operational and the difficulties and problems faced in making operational and its solution. Apart from this, there was also a discussion regarding the auction of mines in Jharkhand.

The Chief Minister said that land for coal production is acquired by Central Coalfields Limited, BCCL and Eastern Coalfields Limited in the state. In such a situation, the government has decided that 75 percent jobs in all these coal mines should be given to the local people. Apart from this, locals should be given priority while awarding tender contracts that are issued in the coal mines. All these will eliminate the bottlenecks in making the coal mines operational, at the same time the local people will also get employment on a large scale.

He also presented his stand before the Union Coal Minister regarding the compensation to the landholder and the revenue received by the government for the acquisition of government land.

On this occasion, the officials of coal ministry and ECL apprised the state government about the difficulties being faced in the commissioning of Rajmahal Taljhari Coal Project and if it is not activated, then there may be a chance to shut down the ECL.

On this, the Chief Minister said that not only in this coal project but also in all the coal projects located in Jharkhand, the local should get the job and tender contract of a fixed amount in any case.

The Union coal minister announced that in the Rajmahal Taljhari Coal Project, a tender of up to one crore rupees will be given to the local for the next two years. He assured to implement it in all the coal companies in the coming days.

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In the high-level meeting, the Chief Minister also raised the issue of non-maintenance of safety standards in various coal projects and frequent shifting of the displaced from one place to another. It also said that the land acquired for coal mining by CCL, BCCL and ECL is not used and lying unused.

In the meeting, Rajmahal JMM MP Vijay Hansda said that after the acquisition of land by coal companies, the settlement paper of the land where the oustees are rehabilitated is not given to them. Because of this they face technical hurdles in generating local certificates. Coal ministry officials said necessary initiatives would be taken to address the problem.