In order to ensure a continuous supply of coal to the power plants and meet any contingent situations relating to Power Sector including alleviating critical coal stock position in power plants, an inter-ministerial sub-group comprising of representatives from the power ministry, coal ministry, railway ministry, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) meet regularly,
Besides, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has also been constituted comprising of railway board chairman; the secretary ministry of coal, the secretary, ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the secretary, ministry of power; to monitor augmentation of coal supply and power generation capacity.
New and Renewable Energy secretary and CEA chairperson are co-opted as special invitees as and when required by the IMC.
Finding new areas for mining coal and lignite through exploration is a continuous process, he said.
There is one sub-scheme i.e. promotional (regional) exploration continuing through central sector scheme of ministry of coal for exploration of new areas of coal & lignite.
In addition to this Geological Survey of India (GSI) also carries out investigation of minerals including coal.