The coal ministry has streamlined the process of preparing a mining plan and its approval for faster clearances. Efforts are also on to make the application process online.

The rejig, which will cut the approval period to about 30 days from 90 days, is aimed at encouraging prospective investors and bidders.

Production of coal from captive sources has been a concern for the government with the latest round of coal block auctions getting a lukewarm response from bidders.

“The re-engineering process includes simplification of the guidelines and the format for the preparation of mining plan, amendments in the relevant provisions of Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, and the approval process,” the coal ministry said in a statement.

The proposed system allows the lessee to get a mining plan ready by a government-accredited mining plan preparing agency and get it certified by a certifying agency before submitting it to the coal ministry for approval.

To further ease the system, the entire mining plan approval process is proposed to be made online for application, processing and approval in the next phase.