With coal import bill doubling to nearly $18 billion in 2012-13, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) on Monday said domestic production of the dry fuel should be increased to lower reliance on imports.
"In the recent period we have seen that the coal import into the country has increased almost by 40 percent. It almost touched $18 billion, which is twice the value of the import a few years ago," PMEAC Chairman C Rangarajan said.