After aluminium, paper mills knock on PM’s doors for coal
NEW DELHI: Rising coal production has failed to improve fuel supply situation for non-power industries. After aluminium, the paper industry has now knocked on the prime minister’s doors for restoration of normative coal supply to avoid possible negative impact on rural livelihood opportunities.
“Paper mills are located in rural areas and the rural people, who are poor and marginalised, depend largely on these mills for their livelihood. More than 10 million people from different strata of society are directly and indirectly connected with this segment of the industry for meeting livelihood needs,” the Indian Agro and Recycled Paper Mills Association said in its letter to the prime minister.
The problem began after coal supply to non-power industries were curtailed in November 2021, including supply via rail mode, from Coal India Ltd. This was done to shore up fuel stocks at power plants, a large number of which were on the brink of shutting down.
