No hike in coal prices: Bagrodia

At a time when the ruling UPA government is grappling with rising inflation, the new Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia has said that there will be no hike in the price of coal used for domestic consumption in this fiscal.

"We will not raise the price of coal used for household consumption. There is no deficit of coal in India and whatever coal is imported is only for industrial use. The coal ministry will ensure that common people are not hit by rising coal prices," Bagrodia told reporters at a press meet in the presence of PS Bhattacharyya, chairman of Coal India Limited.

Striking a populist note, the minister said that every step taken by the coal ministry would be in the interest of the common people and the ministry will make all efforts to ensure that coal is made available to all households in villages.

Black marketing in coal will be curbed with a heavy hand and we will not tolerate corruption of any kind or at any level, he added.

Bagrodia admitted that there are some problems in coal transportation and said that the coal ministry is in talks with the Union railway ministry to sort out the issue.

On the issue of theft of coal, Bagrodia said It is a law and order issue and the onus is on the respective state governments to prevent such activities.