Had our state of Jammu and Kashmir been technical savvy and possessing the requisite know-how of how to optimally explore coal blocks allotted to us by the Union Ministry and on account of that shortcoming having missed the bus, we would have not been strongly urging the Union Government for making alternate coal blocks available to us. The fact of the matter is that the blocks allotted to this State in the year 2013 for a period of 25 years in Kunanli – Luburi area of Odisha for exploration jointly with National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPCL) was later found to be a forest area to the extent of 95 per cent and hence less promising from the economic point of view. On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation had absolutely no knowledge about the new assignment like the expertise of the NTPCL.
Though the said block carried a geological reserve of 130 and 266 million tons of coal respectively, the state could not find it viable enough from all aspects like in case of outsourcing the exploration, the cost wise, the project would have proved a loss incurring venture. Since the state can ill afford to miss the opportunity, Governor Satya Pal Malik is believed to be taking personal interest in the matter to the extent of speaking to the Union Minister concerned only after May 30, when the new Government at the Centre is formed. Once allotted , we wish the new blocks not to meet the same fate as of Kunanli-Luburi blocks.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel