The government expects to roll out an online single-window clearance system for coal block plans by the end of next month, said a senior Coal Ministry official on Monday. Speaking during the Steel and Mining Webinar, Coal Joint Secretary M Nagaraju pointed out that various regulatory approvals at the state level have led to delays in the production of coal mines.
The official said that the government was trying to set up a single window clearance mechanism where all approvals could be granted at one location.
“In the ministry of coal where we are going to link with the MoEF…and then we hope that we also take on board the state government departments on the single window clearance,” he said.
“The approvals and feedback are faster…I hope to have online mine (plan) clearance (for coal blocks)” by the end of next month, Nagaraju said.
The Ministry of Coal has allocated around 80 mines in the last few years, but only 32 of them have become operational and the remaining mines are still in operation, he said.
States have more responsibility than the Center for putting the coal block into production, he said.
“The serious role of the central government ends when we auction. But the drama actually begins with the state level…where large numbers of approvals, verifications, surveys are done…where a lot of delays are expressed,” he said.
This time, the Center took the States on board.
“We’ve actually taken input, we’ve had a lot of consultations with them (states) in selecting coal blocks, and we hope they (states) will be much more forthcoming,” he said.
The Government has auctioned 41 coal blocks for commercial mining.
Most of the mines on sale are in very difficult and backward regions, and once these blocks have been established, local growth will be simulated and stimulated, the Joint Secretary said.
