Centre to sign MoU with Bengal govt over largest DPHD coal block

New Delhi: In a significant move, the centre is set to sign an official MoU with state counterpart West Bengal state government on Friday over the formal allotment of the world's second-largest coal block Deocha-Pachami-Harinsingha-Dewanganj, situated in Birbhum district.

Trinamool MP and leader of the Lower House of the party Sudip Bandyopadhyay raised a question, of the prolonged issue between the state and centre on Wednesday. Moreover, a delegation of senior Trinamool members also met the coal minister Prahlad Joshi at his office in the Parliament on Tuesday. The minister confirmed the development both during the meeting and his speech on the Floor of the House.

The allocation letter of the DPHD coal block was issued to the state government, after a long wait of three years, the incumbent party of West Bengal stated. An approximate requirement of per day in the state is 55 thousand MT, whereas the average supply is 42 thousand MT per day.

The project is not only fulfilling the coal demand of the state but other adjacent states also, the former power minister of WB Manish Gupta told media persons.

This coal block is the largest in India, covering the area of 12.31 sq km a having a reserve of 2102 million tonnes of coal.

Further, the Government of India also plans to auction more than 41 new coal blocks "very shortly", the coal minister mentioned during his reply in Lok Sabha. "In 2018-19, all commodities loading by the Indian Railways was 1,223.29 million tonnes, out of which coal loading was 605.82 MT,

which is almost 50 per cent. A committee, comprising coal and power secretaries, and Member (Traffic) of Railway Board reviews coal transportation and supply on a regular basis," Joshi mentioned.