IANS reported that accusing the central government of bias in coal mine allocation, Orissa Tuesday demanded more coal to fuel its industrialization drive.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry, a state official said Orissa gets only 7.67% of the total coal allocation though it has 24.29% of the total coal reserves in the country.

Mr Ashok Dalwai, commissioner-cum-secretary of the state’s mines department said “Orissa has a quarter of the coal reserves in the country. But the central government has allocated only 520 million tonne for commercial use which is too little to meet the state’s requirements. Compared to that, states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand get a lion’s share in coal allocation.”

The state government has reiterated its demand for additional allocation of coal mines to support its industrialization drive.

The official said the state government has signed MoUs to set up 49 steel projects, 21 thermal power projects and 3 cement projects, adding that Orissa needs an estimated 210 million tonne per annum of coal for future needs.

Mr Raghunath Mohanty Orissa’s Steel, Industries and Mines minister said the state has demanded allocation of mines with 5,000 tonne of coal reserves. We have already conveyed our demand to the prime minister. We are reiterating our demand. We hope the centre fulfils it immediately.

(Sourced from IANS)