Coal ministry launches PIM module of single window clearance system

The government on Tuesday launched the Project Information and Management (PIM) module of the Single Window Clearance System, a platform to seek various clearances to operationalise coal mines.

The development assumes significance in the wake of the government making efforts to secure domestic fuel supplies amid fear of shortage during monsoon.

"The Ministry of Coal has launched Project Information & Management Module of Single Window Clearance System (SWCS) here today," according to an official statement.

The PIM module of SWCS will facilitate project proponents as well as ministry and state officials in monitoring and expeditious implementation of coal mines.

While launching the new IT-enabled facility, Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain said it is an innovative endeavour of the government to create a platform to obtain various clearances for operationalisation of coal mines.

He called upon officials to organise interactive sessions in order to make the new facility familiar to all stakeholders.

Various statutory provisions like approval of mining plan and mine closure plan, and environment and forest clearances, are the prerequisites for starting a coal mine.

These clearances are granted by various central ministries and state government departments. Some of the clearances have their online portals, but most are being given through offline mode.

The project proponents are required to approach different administrative ministries and government departments separately to apply for the requisite clearances, leading to delay in operationalisation of coal mines.

As part of the decision to digitise the clearances, the Ministry of Coal has conceptualised a single window clearance system, through which a project proponent can apply for requisite clearances with a single registration interface.

The portal is proposed to map applications and their respective process flows for grant of all the statutory clearances required for starting of a coal mine.

"To facilitate ease of doing business, a unified platform of SWCS is designed which includes already operational module for approval of mining plan and mine closure plan in a time bound manner and integration with Parivesh Portal, digital acceptance of objection under Section 8 (1) of Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, Consent Management System of Telangana & West Bengal," the ministry said.