Focus on boosting coal production: Coal Minister

7-Jan-2019

The current focus of the government is on boosting production from operational coal mines, according to Minister for Coal, Piyush Goyal.

As reported by The Hindu Business Line. responding to a query on the status of commercial coal mining, Goyal said, “We are focusing more on the end–use mines first because that is where immediately we have to get the excitement and get the people to get the coal mines. We are certainly considering some more relaxations.”

Goyal said there has been an increase in coal consumption and transport. “The Railways has loaded 40 million tonnes more coal this year compared with the same period last year,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Coal, The Hindu Business Line said, all India production during April to November 2018 was 433.90 million tonnes. This was a growth of 9.8 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

In response to a query in the Lok Sabha, Goyal had earlier said, “The focus of the government is on increasing domestic production of coal, which includes efforts to expedite environment and forest clearances expeditiously, pursuing with State Government for assistance in land acquisition and coordinated efforts with Railways for movement of coal.”

“However, coking coal will continue to be imported as there is limited availability of coking coal in the country. Further, power plants designed on imported coal will also continue to import coal,” he added, The Hindu Business Line reported.

Source: THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE