PM to review coal, power sectors performances on July 6

A high-level meeting, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to review performances in sectors like coal and power has been postponed to July 6.

"The meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review the performance of sectors like coal and power during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2007-12) will now be held on July 6 instead of July 1," an official in the Coal Ministry said.

Streamlining forestry and environment clearances for quick take-off of new projects, and giving time limit of 150 days for such approvals are expected to be on the agenda of the meeting, the official said.

A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been grappling with the inter-ministerial differences on 'go' and 'no-go' mining areas.

According to earlier guidelines, which are being resisted by the infrastructure ministries, mining is allowed only in 'go' areas where there are no dense forests.

The GoM has met thrice in February, April and June without a success on resolving the differences as the Environment Ministry does not seem to be agreeing to these norms.

The official said the meeting would also review moratorium on projects which were not able to meet the environment measuring index.

The other issues likely to come up for discussion include seeking cooperation from coal-producing states in addressing the problems relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation and law and order.

Besides, Mukherjee, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are expected to attend the meeting.

It will also take stock of the performance of the key infrastructure sectors like power, coal and steel at the terminal year of the 11th Five-Year Plan.

Demand supply gap for coal in the current fiscal has been estimated at 142 million tonne by the Planning Commission.

According to the Coal Ministry, the 'no go' mining policy has affected a potential production of 660 million tonnes of coal per annum.