The Aanchalik Shilpa Bisthapit Sachetan Manch staged dharna and submitted a memorandum to the State Governor Prof Dr Ganeshi Lal, demanding coal supply security to Odisha based power plants.
Manch president Tapas Roy Chowdhury and general secretary P Rammohan Rao said MCL produces 144 Million Tonnes coal per annum whereas Odisha based power producers (over 40) require 85.90 Million Tonnes of coal per annum.
The State based industries need 55.60% of the coal produced in the State.
Presently, the State based industries are forced to import coal and power whereas 65% coal produced in Odisha is being supplied outside the State, making their operations unviable both on cost as well as coal security.
Power intensive industries with continuous operations within the State require uninterrupted high- quality power and shortage of coal will lead to complete shutdown, they told in their memorandum.
They said that in September out of 1,458 rakes dispatched from MCL Talcher, Odisha power plants got 402 rakes that is 28% and plants outside State got 1,056 that is 73%.
Similarly, from MCL —IB Valley out of total 1025 rakes despatched Odisha plants got 249 that is 24% and 776 sent to plants outside the State that is 76%. ln October also Odisha power plants received 21% of rakes from both the areas.
They urged that the 15 long distance rakes going out of Odisha may be diverted to ensure supply to the local industries within 100 km of the coal mines in Odisha.
