By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 13, 2021: National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO)- a navratna central public sector enterprise under Ministry of Mines is hopeful of operating Utkal D coal mine in Odisha in the next financial year while it is leaving no stone unturned to operationalise Utkal E coal block in the state after obtaining all the statutory clearances thereafter.

“All out efforts are being made for operationalisation of Utkal D Coal Block in FY 2022-23 and Utkal E will be operationalised after obtaining all the statutory clearances thereafter,” Nalco said in its latest report.

The union government had allotted two coal blocks as a part of raw material security to the existing operational units at captive power plant and future expansion of the company.

Established on January 7, 1981, the city based company executed the mining lease of Utkal D coal block on March 25 after obtaining requisite regulatory clearances and completing land acquisition in the mining lease area. The Coal Controller, the statistical authority with respect to coal and lignite, granted the mine opening permission in May.

The appointment of mine developer and operator (MDO) and finalisation of rehabilitation and resettlement of project displaced persons are underway, it said.

The activities for development of railway siding construction are under progress. The pre-project activities for execution of mining lease of Utkal E are in full swing.

Action for acquisition of balance private land and government land are being taken up through State Nodal agency IDCO.