Suggesting the coal ministry to seek a solution by "forcefully" placing the matter before a ministerial group, the panel also asked it to hold consultations at the highest level for expediting clearances.
"The Committee are anguished to observe that 120 projects have been pending for stage I forestry clearance, 54 projects pending for stage II forestry clearance and 14 projects pending for environment clearance," Standing Committee on Coal and Steel said in its latest report.