Didi: Give Bengal subsidised coal
In a move which may open a Pandora’s box for the Centre, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sought coal at a special subsidised rate for local consumption from the Planning Commission. Ms Banerjee told Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia that since 80 per cent of coal is sourced from West Bengal, the state should be given the mineral at a special subsidised rate.
Sources said that the Planning Commission members were taken aback by the demand of the temperamental West Bengal chief minister, as the move if at all considered could lead to similar demands from other coal mining states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. “She wants coal at special subsidised rate for local consumption, including for the thermal power stations in West Bengal. Ms Banerjee maintained in the meeting with the Planning Commission that the royalty from the coal that the state is getting is minuscule and the state needs allocation of coal at much cheaper rates for accelerating the economic growth and also to solve power woes of the state,” sources said.
Ms Banerjee’s demand is likely to be seen controversial, as it can put the non-coal producing states in a difficult position. A number of states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been complaining to the Centre, that their upcoming thermal power stations are not able to take off due to unavailability of coal. “Mines and minerals are spread over in few states, while a number of other states do not have such reserve. Ms Banerjee’s demand can open a Pandora’s box,” said a senior official of the Planning Commission.
The West Bengal chief minister has also been pressing for special package for the state on the grounds that it has no resources after having been burdened with over `2 lakh crore debt accumulated during the tenure of the Left government in the state. Bihar too had been demanding a special package.
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