Maha govt seeks centre’s intervention for Chhattisgarh coal block nod

11 Jan 2022 CW Team

Maharashtra has asked for the coal ministry’s involvement in obtaining forest approval for the Chhattisgarh government coal block allocated to its power stations in the Vidarbha area, becoming the second state to knock on the government's doors over mining limitations in a state that has the nation's third-largest coal deposits.

Last week, MAHAGENCO (Maharashtra State Power Generation Company) MD Sanjay Khandare wrote to coal secretary Anil Jain, saying the utility had met the requirements for forest diversion for the Gare Palma-II coal block in October last year, but the state government was yet to send its recommendation for Stage-I forest approval to the Government.

Khandare urged the ministry to interfere in the matter as early approval was necessary to begin production from the block, situated in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, by the October 2023 deadline. It is the second instance of setbacks being met by coal block owners in Chhattisgarh.

Rajasthan was the first to urge the Centre as the Chhattisgarh government stalled approvals for commencing two new mines and ramping up production from two others allotted to Rajasthan.

As both the states have the Congress in office, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot escalated the issue to party president Sonia Gandhi after his letters to Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel seeking prompt action went ignored. The Gare Palma-II block was granted in August 2015 to MAHAGENCO for fuelling the Koradi, Chandrapur-8 power facilities, the largest production complex in the state’s Vidarbha area.

The block has a peak yearly production capacity of more than 23 million tonnes. MAHAGENCO had applied for forest approval in 2016 for 214 hectares of forest land. However, the application could not be processed because of the unavailability of government land for compensatory afforestation.

Image Source

Infrastructure Transport

16 Sep 2025

Metro Line 2B Phase 1 to Boost Realty in Mumbai’s Eastern Suburbs

Mumbai’s real estate sector is set for a major boost as Phase 1 of Metro Line 2B, between Mandale and Diamond Garden, nears completion. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has confirmed that mandatory rectifications are done, and inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) have been carried out. The 5.39-km stretch with five stations forms part of the larger DN Nagar–Mandale corridor, designed to ease congestion and improve east–west connectivity. Passenger operations are expected by December 2025, with the full line slated for 2027. ..

WattPower wins Best Inverter award at Global Solar Expo 2025

WattPower, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, has won the award for “Best Inverter in the Utility Segment” at the Global Solar Expo 2025. The recognition underscores the company’s commitment to delivering reliable, high-performance and future-ready solar solutions for large-scale projects. At the forefront of utility-scale solar, WattPower manufactures advanced string inverters that directly feed power into the Indian grid. With robust technology, high-quality components and comprehensive product lifecycle support, its solutions stand among the most sophisticated in the ..

Awfis delivers 67,000 sq. ft. innovation hub for eBay in Bengaluru

Awfis Space Solutions, India’s largest flexible workspace provider and the first publicly listed workspace solutions platform, has partnered with eBay to establish a 67,000 sq. ft. innovation hub at Embassy Tech Village, Bengaluru. The mandate covers design, build and management of the new office, which will act as a strategic hub supporting diverse functions and accelerating eBay’s AI-first commerce strategy. The centre will focus on artificial intelligence, engineering, product development and applied research, strengthening eBay’s growth in India. Embassy Tech Village, North Beng..