Govt sets up expert panel to review coal sector

NEW DELHI: The government has constituted an expert committee to carry out a comprehensive review and draw up a road map for the coal sector.

The committee, headed by retired IAS officer T L Shankar, would suggest measures to meet the demand-supply gap in short, medium and long term, an official release said.

The expert committee would also look into ways and means to introduce new technology, improve productivity in coal sector and restructure state-run Coal India Ltd to make it a world class company. It would examine the issue of coal trading and the current policy of captive coal mining.

The committee would also examine the recommendations of KPMG Consulting Pvt Ltd and submit its report in three months.

Other members of the committee include TATA Sons Director J J Irani, former CMD of Coal India P K Sengupta, Planning Commission''s Advisor (Energy) S P Sethi, former advisor (coal and mines) in Planning Commission S K Mahajan, P V Sridharan of TERI and Pradeep Kumar, Additional Secretary in the Department of Coal.