New Delhi: The Coal Ministry has ruled out the possibility of setting up a Single Window Clearance System for sanctioning coal projects as it would require various statutory and regulatory approvals.

"The creation of such an authority for approval of coal sector projects require many statutory and regulatory approvals without amending the relevant acts," a senior Coal Ministry official told PTI.

Out of 47 projects sanctioned in 10th plan period, 21 have been completed till November last year, while the remaining projects were progressing as per schedule.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel had rapped state-run Coal India for failing to meet production gap of 41.79 million tonnes during the 10th Plan period.

The Committee in its recent report has observed "that the progress of implementation of the various projects, under the jurisdiction of CIL for development and exploitation of coal resources, has been far from satisfactory."

It said, "had CIL chalked out a plan to settle various issues relating to implementation of coal projects, the gap between demand and supply would have been abridged to a great extent".

It pointed out that in spite of the existence of a high- level committee headed by the Coal Secretary, no significant improvement has been noticed in development of projects.

The official said CIL has put in place an emergency coal production plan, wherein 16 opencast mines having an estimated 71.3 million tonnes fo coal would be developed.

In order to reduce the demand-supply mismatch in coal sector, 118 mining projects of CIL and 25 projects of Singareni Collieries Co are envisaged to be undertaken in the 11th Plan period, the official added.

The shortage of coal was expected to reduce with 24 coal blocks, allocated between 1993 and 2003, starting production by this fiscal and two by 2009-10.

The Parliamentary Committee expressed dismay that some of the blocks allotted as early as 1998-2000 have still not been developed and only eight blocks have begun production.

Thereafter, the panel suggested that further allocation of coal blocks by the government should be put on hold and new allotments considered only after the system is fine-tuned.

"Development of a coal blocks involve a relatively long gestation period. Large areas are required for mining operations and acquisition of land for mining purposes is becoming increasingly difficult and contentious," the official said.

In order to ensure timely monitoring of coal blocks in the country, the Ministry is planning to suitably restructure the coal controller's office, he said.

Addressing the concerns of the Parliamentary Committee on procedural delays in allocation of coal blocks, the official said, during the past 3-4 years the process of allocation has been made more expeditious and maximum number of blocks have been allocated.

Source : PTI