The management of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has stepped up efforts to commence the coal mining in the Naini Block allotted to it in Odisha over the next three months and also to set up a 2×800 megawatt thermal power project close to the coal block.

According to SCCL officials, the prospects of commencement of mining in Naini inn three months have increased following a meeting of a team from Singareni led by its Chairman and Managing Director N. Balaram with Chief Secretary of Odisha Pradeep Kumar Jena and also with Principal Secretary (Industries) and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of that State.

He informed the Chief Secretary that all the permissions regarding the Naini block had been obtained by SCCL and it had taken steps in accordance with the provisions included in the second phase forest permissions.

As requested by the Odisha government, Rs.39 crore had been deposited as included in the wildlife management plan, he said adding that so far, Rs.180 crore had been paid to the Odisha government by the company to fulfill all the mandatory requirements to start the Naini mines.

Balram also met Principal Secretary (Industries) and chairman of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) Hemant Sharma and requested him to allocate 800 acres of land to set up a thermal power plant near the Naini mines.