Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), a Jharkhand-based arm of Coal India, has signed as many as eight MoUs with local administrations in the state to extend assistance in treatment of Covid patients and provide funds to augment medical infrastructure in district hospitals.

In an official statement on Wednesday, the PSU said that it has signed MoUs with district administrations of Ramgarh, Latehar, Chatra, Bokaro, Ranchi, Giridih, Palamau and Hazaribagh. The company is also ensuring increased quantity of coal to power plants in various parts of the country for meeting energy requirements, it added.

CCL CMD P.M. Prasad said the MoUs with local administrations are valued at Rs 10 crore. “The company has already transferred Rs 6.25 crore. The the rest will be transferred shortly,” he noted.

"In Latehar, CCL is setting up a 12-bed ICU with oxygen supply pipeline at the Sadar Hospital. In Chatra, CCL is setting up PSA Oxygen Plant and strengthening ICU facilities at the local Sadar Hospital. For Bokaro, it is helping create a digital covid centre and high-tech ambulance with oxygen,” the company said.

Similarly, the MoU with Hazaribagh is for procurement of 100 oxygen concentrators, 100 Jumbo cylinders, 100 B-type cylinders, etc, for Hazaribagh Medical College and Hospital (HMCH). In Ranchi, CCL’s Gandhinagar Central Hospital has been converted into a dedicated Covid hospital by the district administration and a large number of patients are already undergoing treatment there .

“CCL has earmarked budget of Rs 7.08 lakh under CSR for procurement of drugs, masks and oxygen cylinders for Covid wards in the state capital,” it said.

As far as its core competency, ie production of coal, CIL and its subsidiaries, including CCL, are supplying raw coal to more than 80 per cent of the power plants in the country.

“Anticipating a rise in power demand, the company is ensuring on an average 49 rakes of coal from its mines to various parts of the country. On Tuesday, May 11, 55 rakes were sent,” it said.