Visakhapatnam: Union ministry of coal accorded permission to Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) for a detailed exploration of the Godavari valley region to ascertain the volume and quality of the coal reserves. In a preliminary regional exploration done by MECL, these reserves were found in Chintalpudi and Somavaram of West Godavari and Krishna districts and are approximately 578.39 million tonne.
Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (APMDC) requested the Union ministry of coal for carrying out detailed exploration in these coal blocks under the scheme of detailed drilling in Non-Cold India Ltd (CIL) Blocks through MECL. The ministry of coal has given permission for this study. “Under promotional exploration scheme of Ministry of Coal (MoC), regional exploration was done in Chintalpudi of WG district and Somavaram Block spread in both WG and Krishna districts of AP and established about 578.39 MT of resources by Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL). Request has been received from APMDC by ministry of coal for carrying out detailed exploration in the coal blocks namely Somavaram, Raghavpuram and Chintalapudi located in Godavari valley coalfields, Andhara Pradesh under the scheme of detailed drilling in Non-CIL Blocks through MECL. Ministry of Coal has given permission for this study through MECL,” said union coal and power minister, Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha recently replying to a question raised by Araku MP of Vizag district, Kothapalli Geetha.
