State govt clears land for coal gasification at Kalmeshwar

Nagpur: The state cabinet cleared a proposal to provide about 290 acre for coal-to-chemical projects at Linga village in Kalmeshwar taluka. This is related to coal gasification to extract syngas (synthesis gas) and other downstream derivatives, including hydrogen.The Adani Group has announced its plans to set up a 70,000cr coal gasification plant at Linga. Adani Airports director Jeet Adani, who was in the city to attend Advantage Vidarbha Khasdar Audyogik Mahotsav, had told reporters that the company expected to start work on the project this year.
The company has plans to come up with a second phase with an equal amount of investment too.An official said it was not clear whether the land was set aside for the company's project specifically or in general for any of the coal gasification ventures. As per the cabinet decision, revenue land would be offered for the project. It would be handed over as category 2 land on payment of a consideration in line with market valuation. Under the terms and conditions, a business entity starting a coal gasification project would not get ownership rights of the land but would have possession.The govt is pushing coal gasification projects throughout the country and has allocated 8,500 crore as viability gap funding. A decision to increase allocation was also considered. There were 4 other coal gasification projects planned in Vidarbha.