Huge coal shortfall estimated in 10 years

The government has admitted that the country would face a huge shortfall of 269 mt of coal by 2021-22 as the coal producing entities had failed to keep pace with the demand as well as economic growth. This announcement comes even as the coal ministry has decided to de-allocate 14 coal blocks and a lignite block awarded to public sector companies like NTPC, Damodar Valley Corporation, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, Tenughat Vidyut Nigam and the Electricity Boards of Bihar and Jharkhand, and three private firms, over their failure to develop them for captive use. The blocks, allotted in 2007, failed to explore and develop the same despite showcause notices.