New Delhi: Delays in environment and forest clearance to Coal India Ltd projects may result in a loss of 59 million tonnes (MT) in its total output in 2017, the government said on Tuesday.
As many as 182 projects of the world's largest coal miner are awaiting environment and forest clearances at central as well as state government levels.
"Delay in obtaining these clearances will result in possible drop in production planned from these projects. It is envisaged that the likely drop in production during the terminal year of XIIth Plan (2012-17) will be to the tune of 59 MT," Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
CIL produced 435 MT in the last fiscal and has set a target of 464 MT for 2012-13.
Of the 182 projects, 40 are awaiting environment clearances, 44 forestry clearances at the Centre's level and the remaining 98 are stuck for diversion of forest land at state level.
Patil said that to expedite the projects the state-owned firm, along with the government has initiated several steps including taking up the matter with land acquisition officials of the states concerned and requesting the Ministry of Forest and Environment to dispose of the cases at the earliest.
Coal India is the largest domestic producer of dry-fuel in the country and accounts for over 80 percent of the country's production.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 04, 2012, 18:25