Monopoly of Coal India should be put to an end: FICCI

09 May 2012 Evaluate

The industry body FICCI is of the opinion that monopoly of Coal India should be put to an end and the government should allow private participation in the mining of coal. FICCI president R V Kanoria is of the view that power companies are facing acute shortages of coal which is crippling industrial development in the country. Hence, radical steps like allowing private players in coal mining need to be taken to bridge the demand and supply gap.

FICCI has suggested that private players should be allowed in coal mining to accelerate the process and create an atmosphere of healthy completion. Also the government should reduce its stake in PSUs to below 50% which would be sufficient enough for it to be part of all major decision making processes in the company but at the same time would help make PSUs observe basic market discipline.

FICCI has gone ahead and criticized the tariff structure in the country. It has pointed out that distribution is the weakest link in the power sector and populist policies rather than market dynamics rule tariff revisions. As a result the agriculture sector gets its power virtually free whereas the burden is passed on to the industry. Subsidies intended for target groups were enjoyed by all and misused by vested interests.

It is estimated that India will need to import 28% of its coal requirements by the end of the 12th Plan as compared to the current 15%. Import dependence for petroleum products is likely to be as high as 80%. Further, the scenario in natural gas sector is also gloomy. The development of natural gas industry is being foiled by distortions in pricing mechanism. The share of natural gas in the overall energy mix is only 10% against the global average of 24%.  

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