New Delhi: The government has exempted three lignite mines from the ongoing 7th round of commercial coal auctions launched last month, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said. The three mines namely East of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri are located in Tamil Nadu, the coal and mines minister said. On March 29, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Joshi launched the latest tranche in a bid to increase availability of the dry fuel in the country.
A total of 106 coal mines, including lignite were put on the block in the round. Of the total mines offered, 61 are partially explored and 45 mines are fully explored. Post exemption of three mines, the total count reduces to 103.
The minister said that he had received a request from Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai to exclude three lignite mines from auctions in the seventh tranche. "In the spirit of cooperative federalism and keeping in mind the interest of people of TN, I have directed to exclude them from auction," he said. Directions have been given to the coal ministry to take necessary steps in this regard, Joshi said.
The farmers in the region have unanimously voiced against coal/ coal-bed methane extraction from their region as it could affect the quality of groundwater and in turn, could affect agriculture in the delta region.
In his request letter, Annamalai has apprised the minister of these blocks being in the Protected Agricultural Zone. "The farmers in the region have unanimously voiced against coal/ coal-bed methane extraction from their region as it could affect the quality of groundwater and in turn, could affect agriculture in the delta region," Annamalai said in the letter.
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)