Odisha, which has the second largest coal reserves after Jharkhand, has reasons to cheer the Budget announcement by finance ministerNirmala Sitharamanof four pilot projects for coal gasification and conversion of coal into chemicals for the , feel industry insiders.
A director ofWestern Coalfields Limitedand vice-president of Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited, said Jharkhand, which has the countrys highest coal reserves (27%) followed by Odisha (24%) andChhattisgarh(17%), would have the highest opportunities for coal-based projects. Coal gasification if successfully implemented will immensely help these states, he said.