Manish Kumar
post news network
New Delhi, July 1: Union minister of state for power, coal and new and renewable energy Piyush Goyal Friday said that the Centre is committed to ensuring reduction of pollution and providing drinking water in coal mine areas in and around Talcher.
Goyal said this after meeting a delegation that came from Talcher to discuss with him humanitarian crises in their areas arising out of coal-mining conducted by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). The meeting was also attended by Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas.
“Along with Dharmendra Pradhan, we met a delegation from Talcher in Orissa regarding coal mine-related issues today. We are committed to development of Orissa and will help in providing drinking water and reduce pollution in mining areas in the state,” said Goyal.
Pradhan later told journalists that Goyal assured the delegation from Talcher that their villages might be acquired for mining as per the prevailing laws if the presence of sufficient coal deposits is indicated there. “He (Goyal) also assured that MCL would be directed to control dust with the help of the latest technologies and carry out blasts in a controlled manner,” said Pradhan.
The delegation from Talcher had submitted a memorandum regarding various problems they have been facing due to ongoing mining activities by MCL near their villages. The delegation, which hailed from Kumanda gram panchayat near Angul, said the need to meet Goyal arose due to surging problems caused by mining activities.
According to sources, Goyal also assured the villagers of facilities of irrigation by ensuring availability of adequate water so that their day-to-day life and farming activities can continue unhampered.
