PM asks coal ministry to ensure improved production

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the union coal ministry to ensure increased production by the public sector Coal India Limited.

Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister, Praful Patel was quoted by a news agency, as saying that Singh asked the coal ministry to ensure that coal production not only comes back to normal, but also increases as the requirement of the country is huge.

He said that during his meeting with the Prime Minister, he had discussed the coal issue, including production of fossil fuel.

Coal India has, however, said that the production target of 482 million tonnes for the current fiscal looks challenging in view of the shutdown of mining activities in Talcher Coalfields in Odisha, and because of Cyclone Phailin.