Seeking to expedite stalled green clearances to mining, coal and power projects, the Government plans to set up a single-window mechanism for the purpose, which will decongest regulatory bottlenecks and boost production in these sectors.
After an intense brain storming meeting held between Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday, it was announced that the Environment Ministry would come out with a draft on coal mines located in areas designated as "inviolate" by August this year.
"We all want single-window mechanism. We are working on that front. But, it cannot happen overnight as rules for different departments are different," Tomar said.
During the meeting, various issues of mutual interest requiring coordination among these ministries were also discussed.
"Issues related to coal block, coking coal and steel were discussed. We have all decided that those projects which are within the law and which we can clear as soon as possible, we will do expeditiously so that steel production can go up, coal production can go up," Tomar added.
Goyal said the Environment Ministry will come up with a draft note on "inviolate areas" or areas which are out of bounds for industrial activity by August and then it would be taken up for further consultation and approval.He also said a separate auction of coal blocks for the steel industry will be done expeditiously.
Action will also soon be taken to increase the capacity of washeries in the Jharia Coal Fields so as to improve the supply of coking coal to the steel industry.