Gourangdih ABC coal block allotted to Bengal for MSME sector

Kolkata, Sep 22 (KNN) Making availability of coal linkages to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector easier, the Gourangdih ABC mine has been allotted to Bengal for allocation to MSMEs.

The Gourangdih ABC mine is located at Raniganj in Bengal and has 61.54 million tonnes of extractable reserves.

According to a media report, Bengal has received Gourangdih ABC mine out of seven blocks allotted to states for allocation to MSMEs in respective states.

"Out of seven blocks allotted to states, one block Gourangdih ABC is given to West Bengal," Coal Joint Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj has said.

"Total 16 blocks have been earmarked for MSMEs, seven had been allotted to states and rest would be done shortly", he added.

The state will in turn sell or give coal linkage to small industries and consumers.

Earlier, the Gourangdih ABC mine was jointly given to JSW Steel and Himachal EMTA.

Recently, the Chairman of Maharatna coal behemoth Coal India Ltd Sutirtha Bhattacharya had said during the 42nd annual general meeting (AGM) that the coal price in Bengal would come down following roll out of GST.

"As per as effect of GST is concern coal will be cheaper in Bengal as coal cess will be subsumed to GST," he said.