Government is working on creating a single-window mechanism for granting faster regulatory clearances to boost coal, steel and power production. Following an inter-ministerial coordination meeting, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said the environment ministry would come out with a draft on coal mines located in areas designated as “inviolate” by August this year.
“We all want single-window mechanism. We are working on that front. But, it cannot happen overnight as rules for different departments are different,” Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.
“Issues related to coal block, coking coal and steel were discussed. We have all decided that those projects which are within the law and which we can clear as soon as possible, we will do expeditiously so that steel production can go up, coal production can go up,” Tomar said.
Goyal said the environment ministry will come up with a draft note on “inviolate areas” or areas which are out of bounds for industrial activity by August and then it would be taken up for further consultation and approval. He also said a separate auction of coal blocks for the steel industry will be done expeditiously.
Last year, South Korean steel major POSCO had announced its decision to scrap a $6 bln steel project in Karnataka due to delay in getting iron ore mining rights and opposition from locals over land acquisition. Another major ArcelorMittal also exited its investment on its proposed $12 bln steel plant in Odisha over delays in securing regulatory clearances.
Tomar said that a list of stuck projects on steel was given to the forest and environment ministry in order to resolve issues and expedite clearances. Action will also be taken soon to increase the capacity of washeries in the Jharia Coal Fields.
Source: freepress journal
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