Govt may delay Opening up of coal mining to private sector

The government’s plan to open up the coal sector to private sector for commercial mining in this fiscal is likely to be delayed due to poor market situation, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup  said on Monday. 

“Earlier, we were thinking to open up the coal sector for commercial mining for the private sector in the current fiscal. But it is likely that there would be some delays,” he said. 

The Government has not gotten “too many” responses in the last auction and CIL has also increased its production to meet demand. “So, we will take a look at the market situation before we put up the blocks for commercial mining for private companies.”