Coal India today said its production will fall short of target by 16 million tonnes this fiscal and may miss the expected output by 39 million tonnes in 2011-12 due to extension of tough environmental norms.
"Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) was supposed to be reviewed in October, but it has been extended till March.
As a result, we clearly estimate an impact of 16 million tonnes reduction this year (on production)," Coal India Chairman Partha Bhattacharya told reporters here on the sidelines of a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting.
He added that "if it continues in 2012, then it will affect additional 39 million tonnes, which means it will take away the growth process (of Coal India)".
Coal India has set a production target of 260.5 MT in 2010-11 and it has planned to produce 486.5 MT of coal in 2011-12.
In 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had introduced the CEPI to categorise the environmental quality at given locations and conducted a nation-wide assessment of industrial clusters.
In a notification on January 13, the MoEF had imposed a temporary moratorium on development projects in 43 clusters labeled critically polluted as they had a CEPI score of more than 70.
In a circular on October 26, the MOEF further extended the moratorium considering projects located in critically polluted areas or industrial clusters for environment clearance (EC) till March 31, 2011.
"We have taken up this matter with the MOEF... This pollution index is basically on account of release of toxic wastes mostly. We have seen that score (in coal bearing areas) is much less than CEPI's score of 70," Bhattacharya said.
He further said that "mining activity does not relate to release of toxic wastes", adding that "you allow us coal mining but ensure that coal is not consumed in that area because those areas are critically polluted.
If this dispensation is available, then we should be back on track next year. It is a question of priority."
Seven coalfields Chandrapur, Korba, Dhanbad, Talcher, Singrauli, Asansol and IB Valley of Orissa, fall under the 43 clusters, where the temporary moratorium on developing projects have been imposed.
