Muttemwar asks Ray to tap coal in Vidarbha

Muttemwar has called for restructuring of WCL for generating more income to bring about prosperity in the Vidarbha region. No doubt, WCL is one of the best coal units of Coal India which is earning crores of rupees, but the organisation needs proper and long-term planning to improve its business prospects. This needs exploitation of these reserves toincrease the coal production capacity in Vidarbha to the tune of 30 million tonnes per annum, which, in turn, could provide employment to 80,000 people directly and five lakh indirectly, feels Muttemwar.

According to him, instead of tapping potentials for growth, the local authorities are afraid of any change. Large areas of deposits of coal have been lost because the surface land was used for other purposes. The authorities are unaware of many underground potential, he observed.

Minerals cannot be transplanted unlike other objects. Under the Coal-bearing Areas Act, WCL is de facto custodian of such lands. The WCL must be questioned how these lands have been allowed for purposes like housing, and industries. All such areas must be properly identified for proper mining, he has further said.

The govt generally encourages the local people to grow and prosper, but in Vidarbha they have been deprived of jobs.