Govt to connect Thar coalfields with railways

Aftab Ahmed

Islamabad: The government has decided to expand the scope of the project connecting Thar coalfields with railway networks to make it economically feasible.

Sources told Newztodays.com that the government is working on the possibility of connecting Thar coalfields with railway networks. The government decided in a meeting held on March 9, 2019. Policymakers directed the Ministry of Railways to conduct a bankable feasibility study and present its fundings before a competent forum.

https://newztodays.com/the-1320-mw-thar-coal-based-power-project-suffers-a-delay/

Accordingly, the ministry of railways entrusted conducting a bankable feasibility study for the rail connectivity of Thar coal mines. However, it completed the requisite study through consultants during June 2020. The ministry shared the findings of the study with the ministry of power.

During the discussion cabinet committee on energy observed that the railway’s ministry conducted a feasibility study based only on two coal power plants. Currently, there is limited scope for coal-based power plants in the world due to their environmental impact. Therefore, the cabinet body overserved expending sustainable resources on the proposed project does not seem prudent.

The cabinet body further noted a dire need to extend the scope of the feasibility study. It is directed to include more projects to make the proposed project viable.