This story is from September 12, 2019

Centre OKs handover of Deocha Pachami coal block to Bengal

Centre OKs handover of Deocha Pachami coal block to Bengal
Kolkata: The Centre has cleared the decks for the handing over of the Deocha Pachami coal block in Birbhum having a reserve of 2.2 billion tonne, the second largest coal block in the world.
According to state government estimates, investments worth Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 crore would be required in developing the block that has a potential of creating at least one lakh direct jobs with a cascading effect on the state economy.

“We have finally received the letter after waiting for three years. Signing of the MoU is due,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna on Wednesday. The state government expects to sign an MoU with the Centre in a week.
West Bengal is the sole allottee of the Deocha Pachami coal block covering 11,222.5 acres of land spread over 11 mouzas in Birbhum. “The huge reserve will not only meet our own demands for coal and power, it will also help us meet the country’s demand,” Banerjee said.
The CM on the same breath made it clear that tapping the black gold underneath is not so easy. “The coal reserve is deep underneath. It requires heavy mining and quarrying to reach it and lift the coal and also stones by removing the heavy overburden. We can also go for stone production on commercial basis,” Mamata said.
This is the reason why five other stakeholder states namely Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and public sector undertaking Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam withdrew from the project raising questions on its viability.

However, the CM isn’t in a hurry to start the project taking a cue from Singur. “Of the 11,222 acres in the command area, a total 2,000 acres is vested land, while 9,000 acres belong to individuals and about 5% of the land comes under forest cover. We have to undertake afforestation in other areas to replenish the loss,” the CM said.
She also pointed out that 4,000 people reside in the area. “According to 1991-92 census, 4,000 people reside in the area. Of them 40% comes from the tribal community. We need to take them in confidence before we undertake work in the locality. We will proceed with the project cautiously, taking care of every aspect from resettlement to environment. There are about 395 families in Deocha Pachami,” the CM said.
The state government, therefore, will undertake an impact assessment study, both social and environment, before the work begins. “A high-power committee has been set up under the chief secretary to do the study. Ministers in the districts, district magistrate, Zilla Parishad members, superintendent of police are all members of the committee at the district level,” the CM said.
To begin with, the government will conduct a survey and prepare a map as part of primary planning for the work at hand. “We will also undertake an air pollution study in the area. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board will provide the government with a Rs 100crore fund of which Rs 50 crore will be spent towards air pollution and environment study while the remaining Rs 50 crore will be kept for the survey and other preparatory activities,” the CM said.
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