Rising coal demand improves prospects of SCCL reaching production target
The Hindu
Coal company gets green nod for new mines in Aug., Sept.
In the backdrop of increasing demand for energy with the economic activity returning near normalcy, as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown last year, the demand for coal too is on the rise improving the prospects of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) crossing the target of producing 70 million tonnes (mt) coal this fiscal.
“We have plans to commence production in at least 10 new mines over the next three years and add production of at least 5 mt every year to reach a production target of 85 million tonnes by the end of 2023-24,” a senior executive of the coal company said adding that the company has secured environmental clearance for the Cluster of GDK-1 and 3 and GDK-2, 2a and 5 (Godavarikhani) opencast and underground mines with a normative production capacity of of 4.1 mt per annum.
The plan to add at least 5 mt production capacity every year for the next three years has been prepared keeping in mind the closure of some existing mines during the period.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.