Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, highlighted the effectiveness of First Mile Projects, which enable seamless coal movement from mines to dispatch points and ensure computerized loading into railway rakes with minimal manual intervention. These initiatives aim to reduce traffic congestion, lower road accidents, and mitigate adverse environmental and health impacts in areas around coal mining projects.
It’s important to note that no First Mile Project has been implemented or is in progress in Rajasthan.
The national target for coal production in the fiscal year 2023-24 has been set at 1012.14 million tonnes. To meet the domestic coal demand, the government has undertaken several measures:
- Initiating new coal mine projects and expanding existing ones
- Regular reviews by the Ministry of Coal to expedite coal block development
- Enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021, allowing captive mine owners (excluding atomic minerals) to sell up to 50% of their annual mineral (including coal) production in the open market, subject to conditions
- Establishing a Single Window Clearance portal for the coal sector to accelerate coal mine operations
- Implementing a Project Monitoring Unit to assist coal block allottees in obtaining necessary approvals for early operationalization
- Launching auctions of coal blocks for commercial mining on a revenue-sharing mechanism with favorable terms and conditions to encourage participation and investment
- Providing incentives and rebates for early coal production and utilization through commercial mining schemes
Moreover, coal companies have undertaken additional steps to bolster domestic coal production:
- Coal India Limited (CIL) has initiated actions to fulfill essential requirements like environmental and forest clearances, land acquisition, and infrastructure development for effective coal production.
- Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) aims to increase production from 67 MT to 70 MT by 2023-24 through grounded new projects and improved operations while focusing on infrastructure development for efficient coal evacuation.
Shri Pralhad Joshi shared this information in a written reply in Lok Sabha, emphasizing the government’s commitment to strategies enhancing coal production while addressing environmental concerns.