Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has assured the Centre that it will auction more than 16 coal blocks over the next two months, Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi said on Friday.

In a virtual meeting, Joshi and Baghel deliberated on several ongoing issues pertaining to coal and mineral mining in the state, Joshi said on Twitter.

Baghel has assured to auction more than 16 blocks over the next two months, Joshi added. These will be from long-standing blocked mines that have reserves of 1,192 million tonnes worth nearly ₹1.9 lakh crore.

Joshi also urged him to expedite operationalising of recently auctioned commercial coal blocks which will increase mineral production and generate employment opportunities in the state.

The Centre is working with the state administration to facilitate early operationalization of the auctioned mines, Joshi added.

The Chhattisgarh government is opposed to the Centre’s notification to acquire about 712 hectares out of the proposed Lemru elephant reserve in the Hasdeo forest for the Madanpur South coal block, which Essel Mining & Industries Ltd would develop under an MDO contract. 

The Ministry of Coal in January launched Single Window Clearance Portal, a unified platform to facilitate grant of clearances and approvals required for operationalising the awarded coal blocks. 

 

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