Centre asks Chhatisgarh to expedite clearances to mining projects

NEW DELHI: The coal ministry has asked the Chhattisgarh government to expedite clearances to mining projects as the Centre has set a target for Coal India to produce 1 billion tonnes of the dry fuel by 2019.

"The government is endeavouring to reach a production level of one billion tonne by 2019. In order to achieve this target, a comprehensive strategy has been worked," coal secretary Anil Swarup said a letter to the state government.

"One of the major components of this strategy is to operationalise such mine of Coal India Ltd (CIL) as have been languishing on account of various issues that beset such projects," he said in the letter to Chhattisgarh chief secretary Vivek Kumar.

The issues relate to land acquisition, law and order and other statutory clearances, some of which are to be resolved at the state level.

"The issues pending with the State relate to coal mining projects of SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Ltd) -- A CIL subsidiary. There are nine forest proposals pending at the state level," Swarup said.

Some of the coal mining projects of SECL pending in the state, includes, Dipka OC (Open cast) mine, Pelma OC, Jagannathpur, Chhal OC, Baroud OC and Kartali OC.

The government has set an ambitious target for CIL to achieve coal production of nearly 1 billion tonnes by 2019.

Coal and power minister Piyush Goyal had earlier said the target of doubling domestic production from the current 462 million tonnes level was "possible".