New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) is planning to increase all India coal production to the level of one billion tonnes by 2023-24 and coal production by Coal India Limited (CIL) to one billion tonne 2024-25. The resultant increase in coal availability will be able to meet the demand of coal to the extent available, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

As per the draft report of NITI Aayog, the coal demand is expected to remain in the range of 1,192-1,325 million tonnes by 2030. Since the launch of auction of coal mines for commercial mining in June 2020, a total of four rounds of auction have been conducted in which a total 292 coal mines were offered. In three rounds, 42 coal mines have been successfully auctioned. Further, in respect of 4th round of auction, bids were opened on March 2 this year and two more bids have been received in respect of five coal mines and six coal mines have fetched single bids.

The Minister said the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 have been amended with a view to allowing sale of coal or lignite, on payment of additional amount to the state government, by the lessee of a captive mine up to 50 per cent of the total coal or lignite produced in a financial year, after meeting the requirement of the end use plant linked with the mine. Earlier this year, the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act had been amended to this effect.

The Union government has also launched the single window clearance portal for the coal sector to speed up the operationalization of coal mines. It is a unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India. Now, the complete process shall be facilitated through the single window clearance portal, which will map not only the relevant application formats, but also process flow for grant of approvals or clearances. /BI/