NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked coal and mines ministries to roll out the next wave of reforms for attracting big-ticket investments, domestic processing of minerals and substituting imported thermal coal with the inventory of domestic output for building self-reliance in these areas.A government statement said the PM asked the top brass from both the ministries to reform the structure for auctioning mines and put in place efficient institutional arrangements to ensure wider participation from the private sector in exploration and mining.The PM’s stress on moving towards self-reliance and investments comes in the backdrop of the government drawing up a blueprint to kick-start economic activities and generate employment once the country comes out of the anti-coronavirus lockdown.There was a discussion on auctioning additional blocks to attract fresh investments and inducting technology to reduce the cost of mining and transportation. Asking the mines ministry to prepare an action plan for benchmarking operations to international standards, the PM exhorted using modern technologies for efficient mining. He also directed that delays in obtaining clearances should be reduced and partnership with states must be established to facilitate an increase in private investments.Ways to turn the public sector more competitive as well as broad-basing community development activities through the Mineral Development Fund were also discussed. Use of sea routes for domestic supplies was also considered.Other areas identified for further reforms included efficient and environmentally sound first-mile connectivity for transporting coal from mines to railway slidings, automatic loading on wagons, coal gasification and liquification as well as coal bed methane exploration.