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New projects in WB impinge on coal belt

KOLKATA: Several major industrial projects in West Bengal impinge on areas bearing prime quality coal in the Ranigunj coalfields in Asansol, Coal India Ltd (CIL) officials have said. One of the biggest such projects is in the proposed airport-cum-township project in Asansol, but the list also includes projects by Bhusan Steel and the Videocon group.

CIL Chairman P. S. Bhattacharyya has already talked to the State Industry Minister Nirupam Sen on this who then asked the Chief Secretary to look into the matter. A team from CIL held a meeting with State government officials recently. They have been apprised that the airport project lies on at least four coal blocks with an underground working mine now lying within 500 metres of the land near Durgapur which is proposed to be acquired for a project involving an airport and also a township. The blocks hold a reserve of about 2,000 million tonnes.

The project, being called aerotropolis, envisages an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore in four phases. The State Government has signed a deal for this project which is a first of its kind envisaging houses, schools, hospitals and an industrial facility with an airport as its hub, in the State’s steel city, Durgapur.

Mr. Sen said that the project marked a significant step towards setting up West Bengal’s second big city in Durgapur. Singapore’s Changi Airport Authorities have also shown interest in this project.

CIL has also communicated its objection to the aerotropolis project to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry saying that protecting these reserves was crucial for the country’s energy security. There is already shortage of coking and non-coking coal which is expected to increase with expansion of the economy.

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