Union coal minister Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal said his department’s goal was to produce maximum coal so that the country’s requirement could be fulfilled.

Mr Jaiswal told a news conference that "We are taking all possible initiatives to produce maximum coal.”

To a query, he said the coal sector should accept the challenge to produce more coal to achieves its target. Stating that new coal blocks had been allotted and new technology was being used to enhance production, he said some coal blocks were not yet functional which would invite scrapping of allotment.

The minister, however said a review committee was looking into applications submitted by various state governments against scrapping and were being considered favorably.

(Sourced from PTI)