PTI reported that the Indian Prime Minister's Office has asked the Coal Ministry to fast track the process of taking back the coal blocks from private firms which have not developed them and giving the deallocated coal mines to Coal India.

An official with the Coal Ministry privy to the development told PTI “Recently, the PMO has asked to expedite the process of coal blocks deallocation and give the deallocated blocks to Coal India.”

Also, the PMO has said the CIL should appoint mine developer and operators to begin production from these deallocated coal blocks without delay.

The Coal Ministry had recently allotted 116 mines to CIL for expansion to help it boost production capacity amid the PSU drawing flak for coal shortage across the country. Though the CIL had asked for 138 mines, the Coal Ministry asked the coal major to recast its plans.

Source - PTI

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