The government today said it would decide next month the fate of captive coal blocks lying idle with 82 companies, including Arcelor Mittal, Tata Steel and NTPC, who have been issued notices for not developing them within the stipulated time. Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in New Delhi that his ministry has received their replies and are compiling them. He added that enhancing coal production is a priority for the government and his ministry can take the coal blocks back, if they are not developed in a given time-frame. The Coal Ministry earlier this year also took a review meeting with the concerned companies, who have been allocated a total of 207 coal blocks for captive use under various power, cement and steel projects.According to Coal India, its production will fall short of target by 16 million tonnes this fiscal and may miss the expected output by 39 million tonnes in 2011-12 due to extension of tough environmental norms.