Minister of coal & mines, and parliamentary affairs Shri Prahlad Singh Joshi announced the target of producing 750 million tonnes of coal in the financial year 2020-21 and also that of producing 1 billion tonnes of coal in the financial year 2023-2024 by Coal India Limited (CIL). This was announced during his address at CIL’s 45th Coal India Foundation Day celebrations in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Key Points
i.Current production target: CIL currently has the target of producing 660 million tonnes of coal which is 82% of the country’s coal output. In-order to achieve the targets set by CIL, it would also create around 10,000 new jobs boosting employment. Govt’s recent decision of 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under automatic route in coal sector, would also be beneficial in minimizing coal import.
ii.Other future plans:
- The coal minister recommended to conserve water and provide treated mine water to people around coal mining areas, which results in eradicating Tuberculosis(TB) in those areas by 2025 under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
- Reforms: Reforms like introducing e-auction for coal block allocations, Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India (SHAKTI), re-gradation of coal mines etc. were also recommended.
iii.Members present: The chief Managing Director of CIL Shri Anil Kumar Jha and other officials were present in the event.
About Ministry of coal:
- Headquarters- New Delhi.
- Coal Secretary- Anil Kumar Jain.
- Prahlad Joshi Constituency- Dharwad (Karnataka).