Tension was mounting since long on the issue of transport of heavy vehicles of MCl coal mines through Belpahar with the demand to construct special coal corridor for coal transport.
But a decision could not be taken in spite of several attempts. Finally, this dispute has come to an end with green signal for the project in a meeting held on Saturday, under the chairmanship of RDC Sambalpur in which the MCl management has consented to contribute Rs 43 crore.
For the last 35 years, the MCl management has been using Belpahar township route for coal transport from Juraboga mines instead of National Highway-49. These vehicles are commuting directly from Juraboga through the campus of TRl company.
On the other hand, thousands of coal loaded vehicles are passing through busy roads of the municipality causing a number of accidents with loss of life and properties.
likewise, the public was very much disgusted over coal trucks coming from lakhanpur mines area and forcibly entering in the busy town roads. To solve these problems, a proposal was given by the district administration to the MCl management.
But due to displacement and job problems, the MCl was willing to finance only for the coal corridor.
However, the MCl management returned the proposal twice initially for VAT and later for GST problems. Hence, the proposal given for the last time could not be implemented.
In such a situation, the Jharsuguda district Collector sought the intervention of the Chief Minister to get an immediate solution. The Chief Secretary suggested going for the coal corridor from the District Mineral Foundation funds in case the MCl not coming forward.
Jharsuguda Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik,TRl Krosaki Director Tarapada Das, MCl Personnel Director lN Mishra,MP Pravas Kumar Singh, Brajrajnagar MlA Radharani Panda, Jharsuguda MlA Naba Kisore Das and Belpahar NAC Chairman Parsuram Sahoo attended.
It was decided to construct a road of 4 km for the coal corridor. With acquisition of around 25 acres of private land, the Government will decide displacement and settlement issues of those giving up their land as per rules.
The construction work will be taken by the Works Department. The proposed road will begin from newly built flyover from the Belpahar end and will meet directly with the National Highway.