Various issues with land acquisition and clearances may make Coal India Ltd (CIL) miss its production target set for the 12th Plan period, a senior executive from the state-run miner said.

CIL has a target to produce 482 million tonnes of coal during the current financial year and 615 million tonnes by year of 2016-17.

But the aforementioned executive, who didn't wish to be named, revealed that many of the company's expansion projects were stuck due to issues with required land acquisition and clearances.

Speaking on the company, the executive said, "The projects that CIL is planning to take up are stuck due to various issues, mostly beyond the company's control. These are not likely to come up in the next couple of years."

According to the senor official, the coal miner could make little progress in seven expansion projects that would have increase production capacity by 18 million tonnes.

The executive, however, added that the company would try to compensate the loss by making attempts to increase production from its existing mines.

Separately, Oil Secretary Vivek Rae has revealed the government's plans to allow CIL to produce coal-bed methane (natural gas) trapped in the mines it owns. The main aim is to provide a much-needed boost to domestic gas production.