Question : DECONTROL OF COAL

(a) whether the Government have decontrolled the price of different categories of coal;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the extent to which the price of coal has gone up as a result thereof;

(d) the expected additional amount earned so far by the coal producing companies as a result thereof;

(e) whether the Government propose to decontrol the production of coal to create more competition in this sector; and

(f) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government to fully decontrol the coal industry?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES & MINERALS (SMT. RITA VERMA)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): The prices of Coking Coal and A, B and C grades of non-coking coal were deregulated since March 1996 and the prices of D grade of non-coking coal were deregulated since March 1997. The full deregulation of prices of coal came into force with effect from 1st January, 2000.

(c): The extent to which the prices of coal fixed by Coal India Limited has gone up in terms of percentage over existing are given below, date-wise:-

1.4.96	Deregulated coal	Grades	In all subsidiaries except	In WCL	In MCL	Western Coalfields Limited (WCL)	and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)	A	20%	23%	15%	B	18%	25%	13%	C	15%	29%	10%	Coking	20%-25%	20%-25%	20%-25%
20.10.96	A	12%	0%	12%	B	12%	0%	12%	C	8%	0%	8%	Coking	8%-12%	8%	-

1.4.97	Deregulated Coal	Grades	In all subsidiaries except MCL	In MCL	D	29%	24%
1.10.97	Deregulated coal	Grades	Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL)	Bharat Coking	Coal Limited	A	5%	-	B	5%	-	C	5%	-	Coking	-	5%
21.8.98	Deregulated coal	Grades	In all subsidiaries except WCL	In WCL	A, B, C	5%	4%	D	7%	6%	Coking 5% of	Central	Coalfields	Limited (CCL)	coal
5.1.99	Deregulated Coal	In ECL West Bengal Mines	5% to 13%
31.5.99	Deregulated coal	Grades	In CCL	In Northern Coalfields Limited	A to D	5%	6%	Coking	4%	-

1996-97	Rs. 1280 crores	1997-98	Rs. 2200 crores	1998-99	Rs. 2630 crores	1999-2000 (expected)	Rs. 3100 crores