On December 27, the coal ministry approached the Cabinet Committee on Investment to lift the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI), according to The Financial Express.
The Financial Express cited the coal ministry as saying to the CCI that at least five big coal projects are halted due to green clearances.
The CEPI was imposed on mining from the coalfields including Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh and Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh from 17 since September 2013.
"These projects can enhance production immediately if they are exempted from CEPI moratorium," the ministry said.
However, Planning Commission postponed the lifting of moratorium under CEPI for Singrauli coalfields and said that coal ministry instead should wait for verdict of the National Green Trbunal on the subject.
