“We will try to ensure that at least 105 million tonnes of coal is extracted from these blocks by the end of the current plan period. Moreover, our emergency coal production plan is also going on well and in the foreseeable future we do not see any case of coal shortage.

It is learnt that of the 163 blocks allocated till date, just over a dozen have reached the desired production levels.

The rest — some of which were allotted as far back as 1998 — have either not secured environmental clearances or have not submitted acceptable mining plans to the government. Coal ministry, which falls under the purview of the Prime Minister after Shibu Soren’s exit, is now taking a serious view of the situation.

47 mn tonnes

The amount of coal ready for the power cos

15 mn tonnes

The coal power companies were invited to carry form the pitheads

5 mn tonnes

The coal lifted by power companies so far