In this connection, NMDC, a Central public sector undertaking, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with WBMDTC — a state government PSU. The block, spread over an area of 9.4 sq km, has an estimated 2 billion tonnes of coal.

The MoU will be followed by the exploration of the coal deposits and establishing the project’s technical and commercial viability. Following this, a joint venture company of NDMC, WBMTDC and Power Development Corporation Limited — a state government PS — will be established to implement the project.

Union Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, who was present while the MoU was signed, said the project will have an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore. Other dignitaries present included Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Minister for Commerce and Industries Nirupam Sen.

The NDMC, India’s single largest iron ore producer, has also signed another agreement with the state government by which it will make a certain amount of iron ore available to the steel manufacturing sector of the state.

During the function, the chief minister thanked Paswan for his role in getting a number of the state’s projects cleared. “He has helped in the revival of IISCO factory at Burnpur with Central funding of Rs 13,000 crore. He is also getting Rs 5,500 crore for the Durgapur Steel factory and trying to clear the PCPIR project as early as possible. We are all thankful to him,” Bhattacharjee said.