New Delhi | April 12, 2016: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that a state-run power firm got a coal block in lieu of the one at Tentuloi, where mining costs are prohibitive as it is deep-cast.

Naveen today met Modi at the Prime Minister's residence. The chief minister's request comes in the backdrop of Odisha's image as an industrially progressive state taking a knock with Rs 52,000 crore Posco steel project, the country's biggest FDI stuck in a limbo.

The BJD has been showcasing Posco as one of its major achievements on the industrial front and cashing in during elections. The uncertain fate of the project with Posco telling the National Green Tribunal that it could not proceed on it because of regulatory hurdles, has not only embarrassed the state government, but also provided ammunition to Opposition parties.

In today's meeting, which was crucial to the state's industrialisation drive, Naveen asked Modi to allocate either of the three blocks - Baitarani East, Karadabahal and Brahmanibill - to the Odisha Thermal Power Corporation that is building a 3,200MW coal-based super critical thermal power plant near Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal. Last year, the coal ministry had told the state not to expect any coal blocks through nomination.

After a 20-minute meeting with Modi, Naveen told reporters: "I sought his intervention in several matters, which include bridge linkage of coal for Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited, early initiation of bidding process for the Ultra Mega Power Projects at Bedabahal in Sundargarh and allocation of an alternate block including Tentuloi Coal Block for Odisha Thermal Power Corporation Limited. Also, the allocation of two more coal blocks for Odisha Mining Corporation and earmarking of more coal blocks for auction for non-regulative sector were discussed."

After the meeting, Naveen tweeted: "Happy with meeting @PMOIndia, hopeful about positive outcomes that will have significant impact on development of #Odisha."

Naveen also demanded that 60 per cent of the proposed clean environment cess on coal - to which Odisha will end up contributing Rs 6,400 crore, be given to the state. In a release, Odisha Bhavan said: "States having an edge in generate renewable energy due to locational advantages will gain at the cost of coal bearing states such as Odisha, which have to bear the brunt of negative externalities, including loss of human habitat, forest cover, industrial disasters and damage to environment."

The Prime Minister's Office has not commented on the meeting and an aide described it as a "courtesy call". Besides asking Modi to ensure expedite environment clearance bottlenecks for iron and manganese mines, Naveen also requested the Centre to allocate Patrapada and Nuagaon Teli Sahi coal blocks to state-run Odisha Mining Corporation for commercial mining and sale of coal to the non-regulated sector.

A release from the state government said Naveen impressed on Modi that the issues being raised by him might have far-reaching implications for coal production, power generation, industrial growth, employment generation and rural livelihoods. Describing the issues discussed to be of "critical importance" for socio-economic development of the state, he urged Modi to resolve them in the true spirit of co-operative federalism.

This is significant considering Naveen government's now-on and now-off affair with the Modi government, which coined the slogan of co-operative federalism mainly with an eye to garnering enough support for itself in the Rajya Sabha where it is facing a problem of numbers. The Prime Minister harped on the theme of co-operative federalism during its last two visits to the state.

(Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/)