New Delhi The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has defended its position on the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report citing delayed green nods that has hindered coal production. The ministry said it gave clearances in excess of what was required and projects are pending as these clearances are still unultilised.

The ministry claims to have given clearances worth 2.71 lakh MW of power capacity of which only 55,000 MW have been used till now. Further, it claims to have cleared 800 mt of coal against current demand of 436 mt. The ministry also said that most of the projects didn't furnish information related to coal linkages, acreage and sulphur content which delayed the green nods.