The Odisha Council from a small and medium enterprises on Monday searches for the Intervention Minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure the supply of coal for the industry operating in the state. Sustainable coal deficiency due to termination / restrictions on coal supply and rakes have threatened the survival of the local industry with the risk of loss of livelihood, and the closure of thousands of MSMEs in the state, Satwik Secretary General Swain said in a letter to Patnik.

Industrial-based Captive Power Plant (CPP) in Odisha, which is very dependent on coal as their primary raw material, cannot run smoothly because of the current situation, he said. Since August 2021, CPPS only gets 40-50 percent of the necessary coal supply, Swain said.

Odisha holds 25 percent of the total state coal deposit. Of the 150 million tons of coal produced through Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd., 65 percent are being transferred to other countries and only 35 percent are reserved for the Odisha industry to the actual 55 percent minimum requirements, the letter said. Industrial bodies say rapid action is needed to resume coal supplies and sweep from MCL.