Rail Transportation of Coal - Singareni Sattupalli Mine

  Magnitude of Problem  

 

This is to highlight the colossal waste of petroleum products, apart from  traffic accidents, air pollution, avoidable carbon emissions etc caused by transportation of coal by road  from Sattupalli opencast mine to Kothagudem, in spite of the National Mission on Climate Change.

 

As per the information available, The Singareni Collieries Company ltd  ( SCL) transports coal every day by road for a distance of about 70 km from Sattupalli opencast mine to Kothagudem in Khammam district of AP State, as per details given below:

 

a)    Average of 8250 tons of coal per day

b)    Average of 275 vehicle trips per day ( 30 T capacity)

c)    Average consumption of 12 KL of Diesel per day ( 45 liters per trip)

 

In addition to the consumption of Diesel, and the consequent  Air Pollution and Carbon Emissions, the hardship is being experienced by the villagers along the road by way of extensive damage to the roads,  accidents etc, because of frequent movement of heavy vehicles.

 

Alternative of Rail Transportation

 

 The proposal to lay the Railway line from Kothagudem ( Bhadrachalam Road) to Kovvur is under consideration of the Railway Board for more than 3 decades to the best of my knowledge. If this Railway line materializes as per the plans, passing through Bhavannapalem of Penuballi Mandal of Khammam district, an additional line of 6-8 km can be laid connecting Sattupalli Coal Mine to Bhavannapalem to facilitate Rail-Transportation of coal to Kothagudem.

                                                        

Initiative of SCL

 

Even though SCL is willing to lay the stretch of 6-8 km line at their own cost, no useful purpose will be served, as the original proposal of for Kothagudem - Kovvur Railway line does not seem to be under active consideration of the railway Board.

 

 It is understood that even though SCL in partnership with APGENCO, has come forward to lay the dedicated Railway line for transportation of coal  from Sattupalli Coal mine to Kothagudem at their own cost , the Railway Board does not seem to have responded favorably to the proposal.

 

Request  

 

 In the light of the national waste in Transportation of Coal by energy inefficient Road Transport and consequent recurring expenditure by way of frequent re-carpeting of roads, repair & maintenance and replacement of vehicles, apart from loss of life due to road accidents, Air Pollution and Carbon Emissions, the GOI / Railway Board requested to consider

 

a)    Expediting the laying of the long pending  Kothagudem(Bhadrachalam Road)–Kovvur Railway line  on top priority basis  or

 

b)    Permit SCL in partnership with APGENCO, to lay the dedicated Railway line for transportation of coal  from Sattupalli Coal mine to Kothagudem at their own cost  with out any  delay, reservations  & preconditions