Coal news and updates

Goyal to relocate MoC officials to PowerMin office

May 30: Piyush Goyal, the newly-appointed Minister for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy, has indicated that senior officials of the Ministry of Coal (MoC) would be asked to operate from the power ministry office at Shram Shakti Bhawan for “better coordination”.

“I would like to shift senior coal ministry officials, including the Office of the Coal Secretary, to the power ministry office at Shram Shakti Bhawan,” Goyal was quoted as saying.
The minister pronounced this during his interactions with senior MoC officials immediately after assuming charge.

The newly-elected NDA government has brought the coal, power and renewable energy ministries under one integrated ministry headed by Goyal. The move is lauded by industry experts as it will improve coordination and better align the goals of India’s numerous energy ministries.

About 70% of India’s power generation comes from thermal or coal-based plants.
Goyal, who himself is functioning from the power ministry office, has pointed out that the relocation of MoC officials from Shastri Bhawan is aimed at achieving better coordination between the two sectors.

Sources said that Goyal is planning to overhaul the functioning of the coal ministry by undertaking a slew of measures such as holding joint meetings and strict monitoring of the ongoing and upcoming projects. During important meetings, the MoC officials would be transported to the power ministry office at 9.15 am and transported back once the meetings are over.