Govt to step up investments in coal infrastructure .

The Government proposes to increase investments in developing infrastructure at the coal fields, said the Coal Minister, Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, on Wednesday.

Investments will be enhanced to Rs 400 crore in 2010-11, from Rs 260 crore in 2009-10, for regional exploration, detailed drilling, environmental measure and development of transportation infrastructure in coal fields, the Coal Minister told Parliament in a written statement.

However, Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, from their internal resources, propose to invest Rs 3,800 crore and Rs 1,335 crore in 2010-11 against provision of Rs 3,100 crore and Rs 634 crore during 2009-10 respectively for increasing production.

As a result of investments made in the previous years, an additional output of 38.83 million tonnes was expected in the current financial year, Mr Jaiswal said.

While stating that it was not possible to specify the losses incurred due to pilferage and black marketing of coal, Mr Jaiswal said the Government has recovered about 12,887 tonnes of coal valued at Rs 2.09 crore by conducting raids jointly with State Governments till February in 2009-10.

Source : Business Line