Kolkata, May 22 (PTI) The West Bengal cabinet on Monday decided to give land to the Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) for the construction of new pits and expansion of non-operational coal mines, a senior official said.

The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, decided to allot around 30 acre of land in the Asansol industrial area in Paschim Bardhaman district to ECL, he said.

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ECL, a subsidiary of Coal India, had sought the land from the state government, he added.

Law Minister Moloy Ghatak said the land will be given to ECL to reopen six abandoned mines in Dalurbadh in Pandabeswar, Kenda in Jamuria, Raniganj, Damolia and Dalora.

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"There were 1.30 lakh people working in the coal mines of ECL. Due to the closure of the mines, many lost their jobs. This decision of the state government will provide employment to many locals," Ghatak said.

Besides, the cabinet also decided to give around 4 acre of land to Eastern Railway for the freight corridor project.

The cabinet also granted promotions to officers of the Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)