India says Paris climate deal won't affect plans to double coal output

Indian official says while country has huge plans for solar, there are limitations to clean energy and coal will remain most efficient energy source for decades

India still plans to double coal output by 2020 and rely on the resource for decades afterwards, a senior official said on Monday, days after rich and poor countries agreed in Paris to curb carbon emissions that cause global warming.

India, the world's third-largest carbon emitter, is dependent on coal for about two-thirds of its energy needs and has pledged to mine more of the fuel to power its resource-hungry economy while also promising to increase clean energy generation.