Coalmin for early meet of GoM to resolve green issues

Peeved at delays in green clearances hurting potential annual coal production of about 660 million tonne, the Coal Ministry has requested the Finance Ministry to finalise an early date for the third meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on coal.

The GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, was constituted at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February to sort out inter-ministerial tussles on the environment norms affecting projects, especially in the coal sector.

The 12-member GoM had met twice in February and April but could not reach at any conclusion.

"We have written a letter to the Finance Ministry asking it to finalise the date for the third meeting of the GoM on coal," a senior Coal Ministry official said.

The third meeting which was scheduled to be held last month could not take place and a final date is yet to be fixed, the official said, adding that the Ministry has requested for an early date.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), in 2009, had categorised 203 coal blocks as 'no go' mining zone, which according to the Coal Ministry has stalled a potential production of about 660 million tonne per annum (MTPA).

The output from these 203 blocks can generate around 1.3 lakh MW of power per annum as per the estimates of the Coal Ministry.

The Coal Ministry has been demanding permission to mine in at least 90% of these 203 blocks to meet the ever widening demand-supply gap of the dry fuel.

The shortage of coal is likely to reach 137 MT this fiscal and 200 MT by FY17.

In the second meeting of the GoM, the Environment Ministry had proposed that it was "prepared to consider revised 'go/ no-go' approach that will free 71% of area in the nine coalfields (203 blocks)."

Originally, the Environment Ministry had proposed to free only 53% of the area in the nine coalfields.