Date:31/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/31/stories/2006033103110300.htm

Back CCEA clears Lakhanpur mine expansion

Our Bureau

New Delhi, March 30

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved floating of tenders for the Lakhanpur opencast coal mining project's expansion plans in Orissa.

Mahanadi Coalfields, which owns the Lakhanpur mines, plans to increase production by 15 million tonnes annually by outsourcing production and removal of incremental overburden for the initial five years.

Briefing presspersons after the meeting, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr P.R. Dasmunshi, said the CCEA also approved re-appropriation and re-phasing of sanctioned capital of Rs 98.74 crore to meet the enhanced coal production target. The Committee also permitted flexibility in implementation stage within the approved cost estimates to respond to improvements in technology.