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| Coal output to be normal in 3 months, says minister |
| BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Talcher Oct 21, 2011, 00:33 IST |
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There is no plan to revise the annual production target of Coal India Ltd (CIL) downward even as most of the coal mines of the navratna public sector coal company have reported negative growth in the first six months of the current fiscal, pushing thermal power stations across the country into deep crisis.
“The production in most coal mines has suffered due to incessant rains, as a result of which some coal companies could not produce the targeted amount of coal setting off crisis in coal supply to power plants,” said Union minister of state for coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil here on Thursday.
Patil, who visited Talcher as part of his current tour of different coalfields to review their performance, told reporters that there is no plan to revise the CIL output target downward as the situation is expected to normalize within next 2 to 3 months.
On the delay by private sector companies, which had been allotted coal blocks, to start operation of their mines, the minister said, warnings have been issued to non-serious private players and follow up will be taken soon.
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of discontinuing e-auction of coal to enhance the supply position, saying such measures will hurt the small scale industries.
On wage negotiation with the leaders of coal trade unions, he said, discussions are on and the differences, hopefully, will be ironed out by the end of the year.
When asked about the demand by coal bearing states like Orissa for early revision of coal royalty, Patil said, the high level committee constituted for the purpose will take decision in this regard.
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