Being a Coal Minister is not easy in any part of the world. There is pressure from the green activists to shut down mines, and there is pressure from the human rights activists to protect the livelihood of coal miners. Pralhad Joshi, Minister for Coal and Mines in India, faces a similar dilemma every day. While he has been very vocal about the fact that coal production and consumption in India will continue to grow for next two decades, he realises that his ministry has to align with the green targets India committed to at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Talking about India’s energy security needs, in an interaction with Outlook Business, Joshi lays out his ministry’s plans to make coal mining sustainable. Edited excerpts: