HC Ordered To Develop Twin Coal Mines for Electricity

Kolkata: The Kolkata High Court issued an order for mining two coal blocks at Panchwara (North) mine in Birbhum and the Barjora (North) mine in Bankura. Both of the mines were directed to use only for producing the seven million tonnes of coal to generate more electricity by the state-run west Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL).

Reports are that the Division Bench comprising Justice Nishita Mahtre and Justice Rakesh Tiwari have also allowed WBPDCL to select a new developer and operator for the mines at Bankura and Birbhum. Also, Justice I.P.Mukherji had overseen the stay order following a petition by the Emta Coal Ltd. Emta’s group firm Bengal Emta Coal Ltd had been operating the two mines used to produce seven million tonnes fossil fuel before the Supreme Court ‘struck down the allocation’ of 218 coal blocks across India

“But Emta's tender for Panchwara (North) was cancelled on technical grounds. Emta then moved the high court, seeking an order asking the Centre and the WBPDCL to grant it the job of developing and mining at the two blocks as it had the experience,” said a solicitor of WBPDCL. Following the production of both of the mines, the state-run coal mines authority body expects to save huge amount. “We can save at least Rs 1,000 per tonne by using coal from (the two) captive mines rather than buying from Coal India. After today's order, we hope to award the contract soon and operationalise the mines,” a WBPDCL official said.

WBPDCL will release tenders on October 5 and 17, seeking applications to develop the coal mines.