WCL targets 100 MT coal production by FY27: Nitin Gadkari
NEW DELHI: Coal India arm Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) has set an ambitious target of 100 million tonnes (MT) production by 2026-27 and plans to set up 20 more mines in the next four years, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.
Inaugurating three mines of WCL through video conferencing, the road transport, highways and MSME minister also asked the company to employ more ‘sons of the soil’ in its projects.
“It (WCL) will have Rs 5,300 crore capital investment. I would request that it should look into inducting more local people even if norms are to be relaxed as there has been several disputed matters due to small issues,” the minister said.
He also asked WCL to provide sand at lower cost to the poor for construction of houses. He said the company is already providing sand to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other government entities at lower prices.
“There should be a transparent system for sand auction as often absence of it results in black-marketing and later legal battle. WCL is providing it to NHAI, PM Awas Yojana and government entities on lesser prices and it should provide it to poor people also for construction of houses,” Gadkari said in his address.
