Auctioning of the already extracted coal would soon start after the minimum base price has been approved by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Speaking to media persons on Friday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the issue regarding the minimum price of coal was discussed during an NGT meeting held sometime back.
“There was a small issue regarding the minimum price of coal. Earlier, the base price was coming out too low which would mean that the coal miners and the owners would be losing out. The rate approved by the Coal India Limited (CIL) would have been very low,” he said.
Sangma informed that the NGT in its ruling has decided to increase the minimum base price of coal.
“They (NGT) have increased the minimum base price which is what we wanted. Now that approval has come from the NGT, we will be going ahead with the auctioning of at least the depots where the stocks are available,” he said.
It may be mentioned the NGT had approved auctioning on a pilot basis 2 lakhs MT out of 32 lakhs MT of already extracted coal.
The state government had earlier expected to generate Rs 20 crore from the auctioning of 2 lakhs MT of extracted coal, and approximately Rs 500 crore from the transportation of 32 lakhs MT of coal.
NNN