Title - Coal India Limited seeks early project clearance

RANCHI: Chairman of Coal India Limited (CIL), along with officials of its three subsidiary companies - Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) - on Saturday met the chief secretary and sought his intervention in expediting the clearance process for mining projects in the state.A large number of mining projects of the CCL, BCCL and the ECL are waiting for the approval from the state government. At present, the CIL through its three subsidiaries, produces around 100 million tonnes of coal every year in Jharkhand.Sources present in the meeting said CIL chairman S Narsing Rao requested chief secretary SK Chaudhary to help the company get environment clearance and construction of railway lines to transport coal from the mines.The CIL chairman also discussed about implementation of Jharia Action Plan for rehabilitation of families in Dhanbad district who are affected by underground fire. "The CIL chairman assured the state about its commitment to carry out welfare activities as per norms under its corporate social responsibility programmes," said the source.Describing the meeting as fruitful, the chief secretary said the state government was always there to help the companies."I have asked the officials of various department to take quick action and find solution to problems faced by the mining company," said Chaudhary.CMD of CCL Gopla Singh informed the chief secretary about the company's plan to start a medical college in Ranchi and a polytechnic college in Rajrappa.