Government moots single-window clearance for coal, steel, power

The government is working to install a single-window mechanism for faster regulatory clearances for coal, steel and power production.

"We all want single-window mechanism. We are working on that front. But it cannot happen overnight as rules for different departments are different," Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said following an inter-ministerial coordination meeting with Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Goyal assured a speedy auction of coal blocks for the steel industry, an official statement here said.

"Action will also be taken soon to increase the capacity of washeries in the Jharia coal fields so as to improve the supply of coking coal to the steel industry," a ministry of mines statement said.

Goyal said the environment ministry will come up with a draft note on "inviolate areas", or areas out of bounds for industrial activity, by August.

"Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar informed in a meeting that the National Board for Wildlife will be reconstituted soon and matters pending for clearance of the NBWL will thereafter be disposed off expeditiously," the statement added.