Maharashtra and Gujarat have planned to come
together to develop a captive coal mine in Orissa, to meet their coal
requirement.
The two states have proposed to develop the Macha
Katta coal mine in the Mahanadi region of Orissa that has recoverable reserves
of 528 million tonnes.
The Union coal ministry has suggested that a
joint venture be formed between the two states. Maharashtra would get 60 per
cent of the coal extracted, and Gujarat, 40 per cent.
A Maharashtra government delegation will soon
visit Gujarat to work out the modalities.
So far the coal ministry has allotted nearly 62
blocks from Eastern Coalfields Ltd's coalfields for captive mining.