Ranchi, July 14: The Raghubar Das cabinet today paved the way for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to explore huge reserves of coalbed methane in Dhanbad and Bokaro districts.
During its meeting, the cabinet decided to award leases to ONGC for carrying out mining activities in 39.48 sqkm land in Bokaro and 28.12sqkm in adjoining Dhanbad to tap this unused natural resource.
Sources claimed that coalbed methane was lying in abundance underneath the surface in the Coal Belt for years.
Though several research work and experiments had been carried out, hinting at commercial viability of coalbed methane, full-fledged mining activities were never undertaken.
The cabinet also gave node to Hindalco Ltd and Essar Power Ltd to carry out coal mining in Palamau and Hazaribagh, respectively.
Moreover, it approved the draft of a proposed MoU between NTPC and the state for floating a new joint venture company for the revival of Patratu Thermal Power Station. While the NTPC will be the majority shareholder with 74 per cent stakes, the state will have 26 per cent shares.
The cabinet also cleared grants in aid to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore for cash-strapped Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (JUVNL).
The other important proposals, which were cleared, include:
• 105 acres in Balumath area of Latehar district for construction of Tori-Shivpur railway tracts against a payment of Rs 7.60 crore
• Revision of the working strength of Jharkhand Administrative Services officials. The number of JAS cadre special secretaries increased from 1 to 12, additional secretaries from 5 to 15, joint secretaries from 60 to 75, SDOs from 272 to 292
• 25 acres for setting up a medical college in Hazaribagh
• 90 acre and 14 decimal land in Kanke block for setting up a new Ranchi University campus
• The list of diseases and hospitals covered under Mukhyamantri Gambhir Beemari Upchar Yojana was expanded. Critically ill patients, with annual family income less than Rs 72,000, get financial aid up to Rs 3 lakh from the state.
• Rs 36.98 crore for the construction of new building of the excise and prohibition department in Kanke area.
