Prime Minister Assures Madhya Pradesh of Coal Supplies and Early Approval of Power Transmission Project

Strategic Insights -

During a meeting with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the state of Madhya Pradesh that its coal demand would be fulfilled from the Birsinghpur coal mines located within the state itself. The state government had informed the Prime Minister that it was not practical for the landlocked state to import coal to meet its demand for power generation. With an allocated supply of only 11 lakh tonnes of coal by the Centre, against its monthly requirement of 17 lakh tonnes, the state hopes to meet its demand from its own mines, which produce 67 lakh tonnes of coal every month.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that the state's coal demand would be fulfilled from the Birsinghpur coal mines.
  • The state has a monthly coal requirement of 17 lakh tonnes, but has been allocated only 11 lakh tonnes by the Centre, despite producing 67 lakh tonnes every month from its own mines.
  • Mr Chouhan requested the Prime Minister to approve a Rs 1,686-crore World Bank-funded project to improve the state's power transmission system, which has already been approved by the Union Power Ministry.
  • The state plans to double its power generation in the next five years and has identified three districts - Sidhi, Umaria, and Shahdol - as Naxal-affected and urged the Prime Minister to restore a battalion of Central Para-military force to Balaghat to fight the menace.
  • The Chief Minister sought a Rs 24,000-crore package, including Rs 18,000 crore for MP's six districts in the Bundelkhand region, describing the Rs 7,277-crore package as 'insufficient'.
  • Mr Chouhan also met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to demand a gas-based power plant in Madhya Pradesh and informed Union Sports Minister M S Gill of the state's Rs one crore assistance to Hockey India.

Statistics:

  • 17 lakh tonnes: the state's monthly coal requirement.
  • 11 lakh tonnes: the coal allocated by the Centre.
  • 67 lakh tonnes: the coal produced by the state's mines every month.
  • Rs 1,686 crore: the World Bank-funded project for power transmission system improvement.
  • 2000 megawatt: the state's proposed increase in power generation over the next five years.
  • Rs 7,277 crore: the package for Bundelkhand region.
  • Rs 24,000 crore: the demanded package for Bundelkhand region.
  • Rs 18,000 crore: the demanded package for MP's six districts in the Bundelkhand region.

Sources:

  • United News of India
  • HT Syndication with permission from United News of India.