Central team holds talks with Odisha on coal production

The Centre on Saturday sought Odisha government's "active cooperation" in facilitating smooth coal production, in the backdrop of a sharp fall in output in Mahanadi Coalfield areas and delay in operation of coal blocks allotted in the state.

A central team headed by Coal Secretary Alok Perti held a discussion with state government officials to facilitate smooth coal production. The team also included chairman of Coal India Ltd (CIL) N C Jha and MCL Chairman and Manging Director A N Sahay.

"We discussed issues like land acquisition, law and order and rehabilitation and resettlement. The discussion was on how to sort out the problems with the cooperation of the state government," Perti told reporters after the meeting.

Stating that the Centre was not against funding developmental activities in coal mining areas, Perti said, "The schemes for implementing developmental activities should come from the district level. The ministry will certainly look into such proposals," he said.

Perti said Orissa Chief Secretary B K Patnaik had suggested monitoring of land acquisition and R&R issues at the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) level. "This is a good proposal and will help in overcoming hurdles before coal production," he said.

The central team's visit came after recent tour of union minister of state for coal Pratik P Patil and CIL Chairman Jha.