While asking States to stop thermal coal imports, the Centre said that a lobby was behind dry-fuel imports despite sufficient domestic stock.
Replying to a query in the Upper House during Question Hour, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said India has the fourth largest resource in the world but yet thermal coal is being imported. It should be stopped, he said.
“There is no hesitation in saying that in many States some import lobby is also working. Though in the last three-four months we have enough stock some of the Gencos are importing,” Joshi said.
“I have written to all chief ministers including of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu requesting them to direct all Gencos to maximise the coal lifting and stop coal imports,” he said.
