Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal today said dependency on coal in the energy sector had become important as other methods for production of energy appear 'bleak'.
"Importance of coal has grown as dependency on other methods appears to be bleak. In fact, coal can be equated with jewellery," Jaiswal told a news conference here.
He was replying to a query whether there were plans to increase coal production in order to enhance thermal power in the aftermath of earthquake in Japan and the subsequent doubts over the future of nuclear energy.
Stating that in the next five to 10 years nuclear energy could be expected in the country, he, however, said it was difficult to talk about its future after the recent events in Japan.
Coal, he said had become an important component in the energy sector as industrialization and economic growth are also depended on it.
Expecting increase in coal production following the increase in the frequency of availability of railway racks, Jaiswal said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had set up a Group of Ministers to look into problems of environment and forest.
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He said coal extraction would be done without harming forest and using latest technology in underground mines as increase in production could enable meeting requirement of coal by both by public and private sectors.
Jaiswal said both the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission had been reviewing work in the coal sector.
Stating that the country depended on coal for power production, Jaiswal called upon all mineral states to guard against any work on their coal-bearing areas.
He rejected Jharkhand's demand to shift Coal India (CIL) headquarters to Ranchi from Kolkata.
"Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh all produce coal. Does it make any sense each state demanding transfer of headquarters to their states. Kolkata is very near to Jharkhand," argued Jaiswal.
For the last several years, almost all parties have been demanding transfer of the HQ of CIL as they contended Jharkhand produced maximum percentage of coal in the country.
On increase in royalty to mineral-producing states, Jaiswal said a committee has been formed and meeting with stake holders had begun.
Every three years a committee is formed to review royalty entitled for various states.