Coal India Limited Chairman, Pramod Agrawal, met Chief Minister Hemant Soren at Secretariat here on Friday. In the course of the meeting, the CM told the CIL Chairman that Rs  56,000 crore is outstanding on the Government land given to Coal India Limited by the State Government for mining. The Chairman of Coal India Limited should take the initiative to make payment to the State Government at the earliest. The CM said that Coal India Limited should ensure to pay the royalty of coal to the state government on Ad Valorem basis.

The CM told Agrawal that the CCL should do extensive plantation work in the area where mining takes place. CCL should also work with commitment in the health sector. The CM put forth his suggestions before Agrawal for the operation of Super Specialty Hospital by CCL. He expressed concern over the slow progress in the Jharia rehabilitation work. The CIL Chairman assured the Chief Minister of positive action on all these points.

The CIL Chairman thanked the CM for the help being extended by the State Government in the mining operations of Coal India. He also urged the Chief Minister to solve the problem of land in ECL's Rajmahal project, land verification of CCL, forest lease, increase the period of CTO (at least 3 years) and smooth the transportation of coal in Amrapali project. The CM assured to consider positively the demands and requests made by Agarwal.

State Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Ekka, Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Kumar Choubey, Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Eastern Coalfield PS Mishra, CMD of CCL Ranchi, P M Prasad were present on the occasion.

Earlier on Thursday, Agarwal, who was on a two -day visit to Dhanbad, while interacting with select media persons said that the company is looking forward to investment in solar energy plants as well as coal bed methane projects. Work on both projects is on, he said. The CIL Chairman visited upcoming Madhuban Coal washery, construction of which is already delayed.

The chairman instructed for ensuring completion of the project by the end of the current year. He also asked HEC authorities to ensure that testing commences in September.

Ranchi based Heavy Engineering Corporation has been entrusted with construction work. Agarwal also inspected block II area mines and also donated two ambulances to BCCL during his stay here.

During his stay he also held meetings with top company officials and discussed production and dispatch targets. He is likely to visit CIMPDIL and CCL  on Friday and Saturday.