The country is facing acute coal shortage, hitting hard the power sector and moves are afoot to ensure that the production is enhanced

The Coal Ministry has given three de-allocated mines, including two of NTPC, to CIL and asked it to appoint mine developers to begin the production from these blocks at the earliest. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) recently asked the Coal Ministry to fast-track the process of taking back captive blocks from the companies which have not developed them within the stipulated time, and giving them to Coal India Ltd (CIL).