Excessive rains and a strike by Coal India workers’ union have led to a shortfall in coal production by 17.95 million tonnes in the last two months.

Against the target of 87.68 mt, the production was 69.73 mt in September and October, Parliament was informed today.

“As against the monthly target of 40.60 mt in September 2011 and 47.08 mt in October 2011, the coal production was 29.84 mt and 39.89 mt...There was, therefore, a shortfall of 10.76 mt during September, 2011 and 7.19 mt during October,” the Coal Minister, Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, said in a reply to the Lok Sabha.

The minister said excessive rains in September, a one-day strike by Coal India’s workers’ union, festivals in October and law and order problems caused the shortfall.

“The main reasons for shortfall in production...are excessive rainfall in the month of September...one-day nationwide bandh called by workers’ union...in demand of additional annual bonus....law and order problem mainly in Jharkhand and Orissa,” the minister said.

Mr Jaiswal, however, stated that efforts were being made to make up the shortfall during the remaining months of the year.

Dispatches to thermal power plants in the last two months by Coal India Ltd (CIL), which accounts for 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, have declined, he said.

“During September and October, 2011, dispatches of coal and products by CIL, to thermal power plants declined by 9 per cent from 48.05 mt during the corresponding period last year to 43.60 mt (provisional),” he said.

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