Dhanbad, March 1: Breaking the freeze after a gap of 10 years, the chairman of Coal India Limited (CIL) announced a recruitment drive from the next financial year through backlog vacancies in the executive section.

The CIL chairman, Shashi Kumar, announced it at the golden jubilee function of Indian Mines School, Dhanbad.

Speaking on the move later, the chairman said Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has prepared a blueprint project for 2,965 executives against the present strength of 2,529 and the sanctioned strength of 2,824.

?We have decided to induct new generation engineers in the BCCL team and 119 Junior Engineer Training (Jet) are already in the pipeline,? the chairman said.

Later, displeased over slump in coal production, Kumar asked the workers of the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) to go all out for the enhancement of coal production before it becomes too late.

After the review meeting of the performance of loss making coal company, BCCL, the chairman sought immediate increase in production of coal to meet the basic demand of cement, steel and power sectors.

?To tide the present crisis of BCCL, which is in the list of sick Industrial units of the Board of Industrial Finance Reconstruction (BIFR), enhancement of production was the only way in all the segments,? said the chairman, while talking to the officers of BCCL in the review meeting on Monday afternoon.

Showing his displeasure with the present growth rate of Coal India which stood below six per cent in the current financial year, Shashi Kumar expected to cross the target of more than eight per cent or even more in the coming year.

The chairman said presently CIL was importing 25 million tones of coal in which 12 million tones are coking coal.

But, the company was trying its best to meet its requirement, which was becoming a financial burden for the exchequer.

Sources in the BCCL said the union coal ministry after getting its approval from the planning commission has approved the allocation of Rs 14,310 crore to the CIL for the execution of several new projects under the 10th plan till 2007. This is said to be the highest allocation in this coal and mineral sector, sources said.

Criticising the move of stopping coal production in the name of conservation of environment, the chairman asked the people to see if the production is not stopped as many industries and factories depend on the basic raw material.

?The law breakers should be penalised but not at the cost of stopping the production of coal,? said Shashi Kumar.