A top official of Coal India Ltd informed on Wednesday that the state-run is planning to invest Rs. 100 billion (Rupees.10, 000 crore) to revive coal mines at Jharia in Jharkhand.
According to Coal India chairman and managing director Partha S. Bhattacharyya, "Jharia coal mines are highly under-utilised and only coking coal is produced there. If the mine fire at Jharia is controlled and this facility is properly utilised, it alone can cater to the coking coal need of the whole steel industry."
Bhattacharyya added that the investment will be employed for controlling the mine fire and installing modern technologies for mining.
"We are already in talks with major steel producers and the government. The only single issue is the rehabilitation of 100,000 families that has to be taken care by both government and the steel companies," informed Bhattacharyya.
The Jharia project had faced several roadblocks because of protests raised by affected people for proper rehabilitation.
The Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, "We are finding out a solution and the broader project plan to implement it."
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