By IANS
New Delhi : Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a subsidiary of the state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL), will reopen 13 coal mines in Jharia in Jharkhand. The mines were closed due to local protests over spreading mine fires, CIL Chairman Partha S. Bhattacharyya said here Wednesday.
According to industry sources, these mines are rich in bituminous coal that is used by the steel industry after it is converted into coking coal.
This natural resource is scarcely found in the country.
The BCCL is collaborating with the state government to implement a comprehensive programme known as the Jharia Action Plan to relocate people, said another official.
The plan, formulated in 2003, has been updated and is expected to cost about Rs.57 billion.