We are open to a coal regulator, says Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi

The Union government has got past the Covid-19-induced slowdown to successfully auction 38 commercial coal blocks. In an interview with Shreya Jai & Jyoti Mukul, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi argues why coal production cannot be sacrificed at the altar of environment. Edited Excerpts:

Are you satisfied with the industry response to commercial coal mining even though three blocks received single bids?

Overall my take is that the success rate is quite good. Before 2014, there was a fear psychosis among people, who wanted natural resources including coal. There were legal cases, policy paralysis etc.