Koradi & Khaparkheda power plants to get coal conveyor belt soon
NAGPUR: Faced with complaints of air pollution and theft on a large scale, Mahagenco has decided to transport coal by conveyor belt from nearby Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) mines.
The pilot project is being implemented for Koradi and Khaparkheda power plants. Work order for it has been issued and bhoomipujan is expected to be held soon.
Anand Deotare, chief engineer (civil), said that five mines close to the two power plants — Kamptee, Indar, Gondegaon, Bhanegaon and Singhoti — would be connected with them by a pipe conveyor belt.
“This would stop air pollution and theft and do away with the need for human resources in coal transport process. It will lead to saving of crores of Rupees for the company,” he told.
The cost of the project is Rs. 422 crores and the total length of the belt is 16.5km. “The belt will be 6 metre above the ground and supported by concrete pillars. It will look like a small Metro,” Deotare said.
Chief engineer (mechanical) Rajesh Patil said that the transport capacity of the belt would be 1,200 tonnes per hour. “The design is being made by the company appointed to execute the project. The specifications of the belt would be known soon,” he added.
Patil further said that while such belts existed in a few other power plants in the country, Mahagenco was the first generation company to link five mines with two power plants. “It is happening on a large scale for the first time,” he added.
The work order was issued last month and the project is to be completed in two years. “However, WCL is yet to provide us land needed for erecting the pillars of the belt. We hope to get it soon,” said Patil.
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