Centre to consider Punjab demands for more Coal

The Government is making all efforts to increase availability of Coal for the Power Sector and Coal India has been directed to give top priority to this. The Ministry of Coal will consider request of Punjab Government to ensure more coal for its Power Plant. This was conveyed by Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal to the Chief Minister of Punjab during a call on meeting here today.

Chief Minister of Punjab requested for temporary Coal linkages or alternative arrangement of coal supply for its Goindwal Power Plant which is to be commissioned in March, 2013. The coal block allocated for the power plant is yet to get local forestry clearance. He also demanded more coal for Rajpura Power Plant and Talwandi Sabo Plant because of increase in their plant capacity. The Union Coal Minister said that his Ministry will consider these requests and see how the availability of more coal is ensured.