Panel mulls policy on coal rejects amid fuel shortage

NEW DELHI: The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), set up to formulate a policy on coal rejects from washeries, is likely to meet on January 29. The second meeting of the IMC to formulate a policy on coal rejects from washery will be held on January 29, according to the Coal Ministry. The government is mulling framing a policy on coal rejects amid acute fuel shortage in the country.

Coal quality is enhanced by washing. "In accordance with the decision taken in the meeting of the Standing Linkage Committee (Long Term) for power...it has been decided to formulate a policy for allocation of coal/washery rejects generation by CIL for washery rejects based power plants," says a Coal Ministry document.

An inter-ministerial committee, under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Coal, met for the first time last month. The committee which has representatives from various ministries, including power, will "assess the actual rejects generated from Coal India (CIL) washeries and formulate suitable guidelines for supply of rejects on long-term basis from CIL washeries".