Singareni Seeks Odisha District Support for Coal Projects

Singareni Collieries Company Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Buddhaprakash Jyoti met Angul District Collector Mohammad Abdaal Akhtar in Odisha on Tuesday to discuss land allocation and support for new company projects.

Project Proposals

The discussions covered plans to build a thermal power plant near the Naini coal mine, set up a rehabilitation colony for families affected by the project, and construct roads to move coal. The Angul Collector responded positively to these proposals and promised necessary support to help meet national power needs.

Land And Roads

During the meeting, the Singareni CMD asked for suitable land to build a resettlement colony for the 40 families displaced by the Naini mine. He also requested an early meeting of the Rehabilitation and Periphery Advisory Committee to advance the rehabilitation package. For the thermal power plant, the company identified land in Tukuda and Jarapada villages. Regarding coal transport, Singareni has already deposited 35 crore rupees for a bypass road between Chandipara and Jarapada to connect the Naini block to the Jarapada railway junction. The CMD also requested support for the Majhika bypass road, promising funds for land acquisition so local residents face no inconvenience, and asked for land to set up a local Singareni office and staff colony.

Plant Visit

Following the meeting, the Singareni team visited Jindal's coal gasification plant in Angul district, which is the country's first such facility. They studied how to produce gas from domestic coal and discussed the feasibility of using coal from Singareni's closed underground mines for gasification, alongside Central Government incentives.

Context

State-owned mining and energy companies often need local administrative backing from district collectors to acquire land and build heavy industrial infrastructure across state boundaries. Such expansion projects help companies secure fuel supplies for power generation while managing local displacement through structured rehabilitation packages.