The West Bengal cabinet has approved the allocation of approximately 30 acres of land in the Asansol industrial area in Paschim Bardhaman district to Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) for the construction of new pits and expansion of non-operational coal mines. ECL, a subsidiary of Coal India, had requested the land from the state government in order to reopen six abandoned mines and provide employment to many locals who had lost their jobs. The cabinet also granted promotions to officers of the Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police and approved the allocation of land to Eastern Railway for a freight corridor project.