With no respite in sight to the ongoing coal crisis that continues to affect the survival of the local industries, the Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME) has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting his intervention.
In a letter to Chief Minister, OASME secretary general Satwik Swain said, “Despite the untiring efforts of the Government to support the industry, the continuing coal shortage due to stoppage/curtailment of coal supplies and rakes has threatened the very survival of local industries with the risk of loss of lakhs of livelihood and closure of thousands of MSMEs in the State.”
He said that since August 2021, the CPPs are getting just 40-50% of the required coal supplies, creating a backlog of over 1,500 coal rakes, since most of the available coal rakes are being diverted away from CPPs.
“Odisha holds 25% of the total coal deposit of the country. Out of the 150 million tons of coal produced through Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCA), 65% is being transferred to other States and only 35% is reserved for Odisha industries, against the actual minimum requirement of 55% for local CPPs,” said the letter.
Prompt action is needed to be taken for the immediate resumption of coal and rake supplies from MCL, to help meet 100% coal requirement of the local CPP-based industries of Odisha. The timely action could be in the greater interest of thousands of MSMEs and save lakhs of people from the loss of employment and livelihoods, the letter added.