Coal Production Under Modi Government Rises By 144 Million Tonnes; Surpasses UPA’s 10 year Tally Of 138 MT

Coal production under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government increased by over 144 million tonnes (mt) over the past five years, registering a jump of five per cent over the 138 mt added to the coal output under the ten year UPA rule between 2004 and 2014, reports Times Of India (TOI).

While coal production stood at 323.6 mt per year when the first UPA government took over in 2004-05, it increased by only 431.3 million tonnes in the intervening ten years of Manmohan Singh government to stand at a yearly production of 462.4 mt.

On the other hand, the Modi government inherited a yearly production run of 462.4 mt, it increased the same by 538.8 mt in just five years. Yearly production stood at 606.9 mt in 2018-19.

“There is a clear vision and direction from the leadership. The railway and coal ministries are working as a team with the power and other consumer ministries. Improved coordination with forest and environment ministry has ensured speedy clearances for mine expansion and evacuation projects," said a coal ministry official to TOI.

Markets Over CIL

Also to end Coal India Limited’s (CIL) monopoly in the coal production sector and to bring in transparency and greater competition, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi, in February (2018) gave its approval to allow private firms to undertake coal mining operations in the country.

This move is expected to enable power, cement and steel producers to reasonably access coal without being overly dependent on a single producer.

Also Read: Time To Open Coal Mining For Commercial Operations Was Yesterday