Centre freezes coal prices for a year in view of inflation

Nagpur, May 25 (UNI) With general elections just around the corner, the Central government has decided to freeze the prices of coal sold by the public sector companies for a year in view of the runaway inflation.

Besides, it has increased the quota available through e-auction five-fold and revised the production growth target upwards in an effort to keep the coal prices down by increasing availability.

There would be no hike in coal by any subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) in the country this year, Union Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia told reporters here today.

The government has decided to keep the notified prices of coal steady during 2008-2009, in view of the widespread inflation, he underlined.

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