COAL Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said closure of some mines, and inundation of a few others due to monsoon led to the crisis but there is no need to panic as the situation is improving. Visiting the Ashoka mine of the Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) at Piparwar in Chatra district of Jharkhand, Joshi said the power plants in the country will continue to receive the required amount of coal. “We are witnessing an improvement now,” he said, asked about the current situation. The minister held discussions with officials of CCL and Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) on the prevailing situation.

 

“We can produce two million tonnes of coal per day,” he said, asserting the need for producing more coal. Closure of some coal mines and inundation of a few others due to monsoon led to the hindrance in coal supply to power plants, Joshi told reporters. The minister also discussed the issue related to the availability of land for mining at the meeting. A solution will be found with the cooperation of all, including the district administration, he said. Meanwhile, the supply of coal by CIL to the non-power sector has been kept suspended temporarily amid electricity generating plants in the country grappling with coal shortages.