CIL may miss production targets despite rising output 

CIL is likely to miss the revised production target of 440
million tonnes for the fiscal year despite of rising its output in last two
months of current quarter.

“We expect Coal India output to be around 435 million tonnes
this year,” an official at Coal Ministry said. Coal India had initially set a
target of 460 million tonnes for fiscal 2012, which was revised mid-year due to
sluggish output in first half on account of heavy rains and clearance delays
impacting its production.

For Coal India, the March quarter is traditionally the
strongest, when production peaks. In the past two months, Coal India has made
up for the slippages and come out of its negative balance by registering a
marginal growth in output.

For last three years, Coal India's output has been stagnant
largely on account of environmental and land acquisition issues hurting its
production and expansion plans. The Group of Ministers on coal, which met last
week is said to have discussed fast tracking several projects of Coal India for
which the company is awaiting environmental clearance.