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Public sector power producer NTPC today said it facing illegal mining at its Pakri Barwadih coal block in Jharkhand and alleged the state is not providing law and order support, while asking the government to look into the issue.
“There are issues of illegal mining in areas where mining has started, like in the Pakri Barwadih coal block. The state government is not providing law and order support, therefore we are unable to mine, locals are mining from there,” Arup Roy Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC said.
Country’s largest power generation utility NTPC, which is also developing coal blocks in Jharkhand, has alleged that there is rampant illegal mining in the vicinity of its Pakri Barwadih block.
He said the company informed the state government last year that thousands of villagers gathered at Arhara village under Barkagaon block in Pakri-Barwadih Coal Block area of NTPC extracted coal.
NTPC is also operating three more coal mines in the state — Chhatti Bariatu, Pakri-Barwadih and Kerandhari.
When asked whether other coal blocks are also affected due to illegal mining, he said at Chhatti Bariatu South the company is preparing the block for mining.
The coal ministry, earlier this month, had issued a show cause notice to NTPC for delay in production from Chatti Bariatu South coal block and sought explanation from the power PSU for making slow progress in another mine in the state.
Chatti-Bariatu, Kerandari and Chatti-Bariatu (South) coal blocks were re-allotted to the company in January last year.
They were forfeited because of long delays in developing them.
The company ventured into coal mining business with an aim to meet about 20 per cent of its coal requirement from the captive mines by 2017.
It has so far been allotted 7 coal blocks, including 2 that are to be developed through the joint venture route.
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