Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 7 (EMN): Manipur will begin to avail the Coal quota from the current financial year and will definitely give a boost to the local entrepreneurs’ and small industrial units that rely on firewood and bootlegged coal. Coal India Limited has allocated 7 lakh metric tonnes. This was disclosed by the Director Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Ranjan Yumnam while addressing a press conference at DIPR Manipur office in Imphal on March 7 Wednesday.
Under the new coal distribution policy the distribution of coal to units in small and medium sector whose requirement is unto 4200 MTs per annum is to be done through an agency nominated by the state government and in respect of Manipur, CAF & PD Department is the State nominated agency (SNA). Being SNA, CAF & PD is to facilitate Industrial Units to procure coal from Coal India Limited (CIL). The actual freight charge is to be borne by the consumers/Industrial Units.
Accompanied by Assistant Director CAF & PD Nabakanta and OSD of the Department RK Binoy, Director Ranjan stated that as SNA for lifting coal, CAF & PD need to enter into Fuel supply agreement with each coal company. The Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) is based on firm commitment and compensation for default in performance on either side. So far the Department concluded such FSA with NEC, Coal India Limited, Mergherita only for lifting 10,000 MT (Ten Thousand MT) of coal for the current financial year.
As on date CAF & PD have successfully mobilised demand and delivered about 500 MTs of coal to few brick kilns of the state. There are about 98 brick kilns in Manipur. Shifting from wood fuel to coal will substantially reduce dependency on firewood and which will curb deforestation to a good degree. Complex of Eastern Construction, Pvt. Ltd. At Waiton has been temporarily identified as site for coal in transit.
Besides the state government has urged the central authority to lay underground pipelines for fuel supply to the volatile border state in future, he stated.
