CIL has set coal production target of 1 billion tonne: Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal today said the Coal India Ltd (CIL) has set a coal production target of one billion tonne.
"The target before the Coal Ministry and CIL is very challenging. The aim is to attain one billion tonne of coal production," the Union Minister of State for Coal and Power (independent charge) said at Korba district headquarters.
Power shortage level in the country has come down to 2.1 per cent from 4.2 per cent, he said.
Goyal took part in a series of programmes in Korba as part of a month-long 'VikasParv' being observed to mark NDA government completing two years in the office.

Korba is known as power hub of the state as it has more then ten thermal power plants.
The Minister briefed media about the achievements of two years of NDA rule in the country and also addressed a public meeting at Gevra after reaching Korba where he announced that a medical college will be set up by CIL in the state.

A medical college will be set up by the CIL in the state, which will benefit the students. Besides that a cultural building will also be built in SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Limited) mining area, which will available to the weaker sections of the society for free of cost, he said.

The minister also announced other construction works to be carried out in Korba.
He also visited coal mines area and held a meeting with officials and representatives of labour unions.
In the morning, Goyal took part in the International Yoga Day celebrations at the Central School in Raipur.
Goyal and Chief Minister Raman Singh also held a high-level deliberations on the rail connectivity during a meeting here.
About 270 km new railway link will be laid in Chhattisgarh soon with the Centre's co-operation. The railway line will link Dongargarh, Khairagarh, Kawardha, Mungeli, Kota and Katghora to Bilaspur, a government official said.

There was a detailed presentation on the 'Rail Corridor' and coal blocks, the official.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also deliberated on the coal block issue.