Nagpur: Central Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal on Sunday expressed confidence that coal and electricity will play a vital role in Vidarbha’s development and put the region on the path of prosperity in coming days. The Minister today inaugurated three coal mines in Vidarbha’s Nagpur and Chandrapur districts. The Penganga coal mine in Chandrapur district and Makardhokra and Bhanegaon coal mines in Nagpur district were dedicated to the nation at a function held in Virur Gadegaon of Chandrapur district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Shipping and Transport Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Hansraj Ahir and State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on the occasion.
Talking to media in Nagpur after dedicating the largest open cast project of the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) at Penganga the Minister said that the WCL has targeted to open a new mine every month in future. The WCL, which was running in losses since the past three years, has increased the production by 10-12 percent and registered seven percent profit.
Coming clear on e-bidding of coal blocks Piyush Goyal termed the talk on costly electricity in Maharashtra and other parts of the country as rumours and added that Maharashtra has coal more than the requirement. The adequate coal stock will help in reducing the cost of electricity generation and expressed the hope that in coming days will see cheaper power tariff.
The Coal Minister Piyush Goyal threw light on WCL’s future social welfare projects. He said the WCL, with the help of its largest customer the Mahajan Coal, will be constructing a 200-bed hospital in Koradi near Nagpur. Four more cancer hospitals will also be constructed in Vidarbha. The WCL has given Rs 2 crore to Chandrapur District Administration for cleaning of Irai River, said Goyal.
In another programme held at the premises of WCL Headquarters, the Minister’s inaugurated WCL’s Vision 2020 – “Prarambh” which envisages initiatives for utilization of water excavated from mines, eco-mine tourism, installation of LED lights and other environment oriented initiatives.
