Coal transport: Centre seeks Odisha help in Talcher rail upgrade

"We have placed a proposal before the Odisha government to support the Centre's efforts to upgrade railway network in Talcher area so that the volume of coal evacuation is enhanced from the present 75 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes in coming days," Union Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Noting that expansion of railway network in Talcher area is essential for <g data-gr-id="71">development</g> of the country, Goyal said the state will immensely benefit from the project. "The state will earn as much as Rs 1,000 crore per annum after upgradation of <g data-gr-id="70">railway</g> network in Talcher," he said, adding that the government has assured "full support".

Meanwhile, Mahanadi Coalfield (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, recently partnered with IRCON International and state-owned IDCO (Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) and set up Mahanadi Coal Railway to develop the rail infrastructure in the state.

MCL, IRCON and IDCO will have equity ratio of 64:26:10 in the joint venture, MCL officials said, adding one of the foremost tasks before the new company is to develop 14 km of Angul-Balram rail link in the initial phase, which could transport 92 million tonnes of coal. 

In due course, this rail link will complete the Angul- Balram-Talcher-Angul loop to facilitate uni-directional movement of wagons. "The SPV will not only cater to the current evacuation need of the <g data-gr-id="64">company,</g> but will also identify the evacuation constraints of MCL and accordingly will implement the plan," the officials said.

In the second phase, the company is expected to take up Jharsuguda-Barpali-<g data-gr-id="60">Serdega</g> Rail link, which will enable Basundhara Coalfield to produce 85 mt compared with its production of only 10 mt. Both the rail projects are considered very critical for MCL for achieving its higher growth potential.

MCL, which in 2014-15 produced 121 mt of coal, has planned to produce 250 <g data-gr-id="48">mt</g> by 2019-20. 

Improved coal evacuation in future through this SPV will help close the gap between demand and supply of coal. Goyal also said that the Centre is committed to <g data-gr-id="62">ensuring</g> electricity supply to all in Odisha within 18 months <g data-gr-id="68">where</g> about 50 lakh households remain unelectrified. Odisha's Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das said, however, it is 25 lakh households and not 50 lakh that remained unelectrified in the state. "There is some mismatch in the figure of the union minister."

Goyal said, "It is sad that about 50 lakh households in the state are unelectrified even after so many years of Independence. The Prime Minister has announced that people across the country will get quality power round the clock." The Centre is committed to <g data-gr-id="69">ensuring</g> electricity supply to all in the state within one-and-a-half-year, he added. 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government was targeting to achieve 24X7 power supply across the country by 2022, noting that electricity was key for effective implementation of Digital India programme aimed at empowering the common man and ensuring transparency. Goyal told reporters that steps are also being taken for providing electricity connection to 25,000 hamlets in the state.

Central schemes like Deen Dayal <g data-gr-id="54">Upadhayaya</g> Gram Jyoti Yojana and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) would ensure power for all, Goyal said, adding that the state government was supportive of rural electrification works. However, he expressed concern over the high rate of transmission and distribution loss, about 38 <g data-gr-id="55">per cent</g>, in the state.

Goyal also said only 2 <g data-gr-id="49">per cent</g> of electricity is consumed for the agricultural purpose in the state. "Separate feeders need to be in place for farmers," he said.

Meanwhile, on "non-completion" of rural electrification works so far, Das said that CPSUs like NTPC and Powergrid Corporation (PGCIL) did not meet the deadline and therefore people in rural areas could not get power.

On the coal sector, Goyal said: "Odisha will earn over Rs 45,000 crore from coal block auction which the state government can use for the betterment of the state. Along with this, the state will also get all forms of assistance from the Centre for the overall development of the Eastern India".

Referring to doctors' shortage in Odisha, he said the Centre plans to set up eight medical colleges in coming days. Of these, three will be developed by the Central PSUs while five others will get 75 per cent funding from the central government. CPSUs like Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), NTPC and SAIL in Rourkela will set up three medical college hospitals, he said.

Goyal also announced that MCL and NTPC will ensure health service including free medical check-ups for all the freedom fighters.