In order to speed up streamlining all approvals and clearances for coal mine operation, the Union Government is coming up with a single window system.
With delay in operationlisation of coal blocks, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) is coming up with a Single Point Gateway for all such activities, informed Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain.
While Odisha is the second most coal bearing State in the country, it’s role in this issue is pertinent and the MoC has sought support of the State Government in this regard, said sources.
Odisha has 79,295 Million Ton of coal deposit and it has huge proven resources so far as coal is concerned.
The State has been able to operate only one coal block-Jamkhani, which has gone to Vedanta Limited during recent auction process, when the Ministry of Coal has initiated the process of auction of 27 coal blocks in the country.
In fact, Odisha has been propelling coal production in a big way and during last five years, the State has hiked it coal production by 23 per cent, while the national coal production increased by 24 per cent.
With such a huge increase in production of coal from Odisha, there is enough scope for more coal blocks to be auctioned and experts are clueless as to why more such mines are not identified for auction.
Out of the 27 coal blocks, 21 have been reserved for auction to all non regulated sectors, such as steel, cement and six coking coal mines for iron ore and steel.
In case of allotment, five coal mines are for power sector, nine for sale of coal and one for iron and steel.
Under this backdrop, experts advise that more coal blocks are needed to be identified and auctioned to meet the shortage of coal.
Now the MoC has started detailed analysis of all sorts of activities needed after auction of the coal blocks.
Detailed process followed by the State Government for grant and execution of mining lease and how much time it takes will be analyzed.
It is reported that a lot of paper work and delay in issuing clearances are jeopardising coal production. So the MoC will streamline all the approvals and clearances and a single portal will be in place for facilitating early operationlisation of coal mines and augmentation of coal production.
While all India coal production was 730.54 Million Ton during 2018-19 with a positive growth of 7.9 per cent, more production is targeted with a view to meet the growing requirement of the country.
Now with the shutdown of industries, consumption of coal has gone down during Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic.
However, it will catch up once, COVID induced lockdown is over and power generation picks up.
So looking at the scenario, the MoC has decided to ease the system and help out the investors in early operation of mines as well as augmentation of coal production in the country.