Coal

India now ranks 3rd amongst the coal producing countries in the world. Through a sustained programme of investment and greater thrust on application of modern technologies, it has been possible to raise the production of Coal from a level of about 70 million tonnes at the time of nationalisation in early 1970's to 355 million tonnes (provisional - excluding Meghalaya) in 2003-04. Most of the coal production in India comes from openpit mines contributing over 81% of the total production. A number of large openpit mines of over 10 million tonnes per annum capacity are in operation. Shovels with capacity upto 25 cu. m. , Dumpers upto 170 tonnes , Draglines upt 24/96 capacity and inpit crushing conveying system are deployed in hard coal openpit mines. Large capacity bucket wheel excavators are in operation for lignite mining.