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Union Coal Minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal on Wednesday said the Coal ministry had given in-principle approval for allotment of five coal blocks to four NTPC thermal power plants in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

“We have in principle approved to allocate five coal blocks to NTPC. The identification of the coal blocks is still underway,” Mr. Jaiswal told reporters on the sidelines of Round Table Conference on Coal organised by India Energy Forum here.

The coal blocks would be allocated through government dispensation route to NTPC’s four power projects — 500 MW in Rai Bareilly, UP; 1,600 MW at Kudgi in Karnataka; 1,600 MW at Gajmara in Orissa and 3,960 MW at Barethi in Madhya Pradesh. NTPC has 15 coal-based and seven gas-based power stations, besides six joint venture or subsidiary power projects across the country. In May, Coal Ministry de-allocated 14 coal blocks and one lignite block awarded to public sector companies like NTPC, besides three private firms, over their failure to develop the same for captive use.

Earlier, speaking at the conference, Mr. Jaiswal stressed on urgent need to facilitate production of coal through proactive measures to meet increasing demand of coal.

Expressing concern over slow progress of captive coal mining projects, Mr. Jaisawal said that early solutions need to be found for various problems facing the coal sector so that the economy can go ahead with the planned growth rate and the coal sector is enabled to play its rightful role in fuelling this growth.

Mr. Jaiswal said keeping in view the indigenous availability and demand estimated by CEA for power utilities in future, Ministry of Power should plan for higher imports. Separately Power Ministry must also examine the need for existing plants to be retro-fitted in order to absorb higher percentages of imported coal.

He said both public and private companies are suffering due to delays in obtaining environmental and forestry clearances in addition to the constraints in land acquisition and R&R. However, he noted that coal mining has left adverse impact on the environment over the period and the credibility of the sector needs to be improved in this regard by adopting best practices.

He said cooperation of the Railway in early implementation of identified rail infrastructure projects in potential coalfields for coal evacuation including additional rolling stock is a critical area in enhancing domestic production. In a number of cases coal companies are willing to fund the cost of the projects as there is no dearth of resources.