For its 241 projects, government-owned Coal India (CIL) is awaiting environment and forestry clearances amid the flak the company is facing for not achieving its production target. At present, 48 environmental clearance proposals, having a capacity of about 109 Mty (million tonne per year), are awaiting clearances at different levels.

The document said that at present, 193 forestry proposals are awaiting clearances either at MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) or at the state levels. During the 11th Five Year Plan, it said, Coal India had obtained forestry clearances for 56 proposals involving an area of 7095 Ha (hectares) from MoEF. The contribution from these projects during 2012-13 was 77.5 million tonnes (MT).

The document said five forestry proposals covering an area of 538 Ha have also been cleared by MoEF during the first year of the 12th Five Year Plan.