Manmohan Singh calls urgent meeting on coal shortage

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an urgent meeting on May 16 to address the issue of coal shortage in the country.

The meeting would be attended by coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh, power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

“The PM will meet the involved ministries to sort out the issue of coal shortage. The growth of the country should not be impacted due to coal shortage,” said Jaiswal. The issue ruled last month’s Planning Commission meeting, which discussed the growth of projections for the 12th Plan.

The meeting will also take up the issue of coal transportation. Last month, Ramesh had informed the prime minister that over 50 mt coal was lying idle at pitheads due to lack of transportation facility. The power ministry too had raised this issue with Coal India earlier.

A group of ministers (GoM) headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is already deliberating on the issue of environment and forest clearance for coal mines in the country. The meeting convened by the prime minister is expected to impact the outcome of the GoM.