India imported 168.44 MT coal in FY'14 to meet demand

In view of the "constrained" coal output scenario, the government today said 168.44 million tonnes (MT) of the dry-fuel had to be imported in the previous fiscal to bridge the demand-supply gap.
"The production of coal has been constrained ... consumption of coal during 2013-14 was 739.42 MT against the supply of 571 MT. The gap between total consumption and domestic supply has been met through import of coal to the extent of 168.44 MT," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
Goyal said output has been constrained on account of difficulties in land acquisition, delays in green nods and lack of rail infrastructure for evacuation of coal.

He said the government has taken steps to augment production which include efforts to expedite environment and forest clearances, pursuing states for fast-tracking land acquisitions and coordinated efforts with railways for faster evacuation of the dry-fuel.
In reply to another query, he said the number of coal mines in operation in the country is 566 which includes non-producing blocks too.
As per Geological Survey of India, total coal resources in the country has been assessed at 301.56 billion tonnes on April 1.