Question : PRODUCTION IN COAL MINES

(a) whether there are such coal mines in the country where coal production has not been started so far;

(b)If so, the State-wise details thereof including Maharashtra along with reasons for not starting production;

(c) the estimated stock of coal in the said coal mines;

(d) whether the Government proposes to start mining in the said coal mines and open upnew coal mines with a view to tackle power crisis;and

(e) If so, the details thereof and the time by which a final decision is likely to be takenthereon?

MINISTEROF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL,POWERAND NEW&RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRIPIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b): As per the information provided by the Coal Controller, Kolkata, the number of captive coal blocksallocated to various companies where coal production has not started are 178 out of which 4 coal mines are in Andhra Pradesh, 34 in Chattisgarh, 54 inJharkhand, 20 in Madhya Pradesh, 34 in Orissa, 12 in West bengal and 20 are inMaharasthra.The reasons for non- production in the above coal blocks are due to the pending statutory clearances at various levels.

Further, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 120 of 2012 (Manoharlal Sharma Vs. Principal Secretary & Ors.) and Writ Petition (Civil) No. 463 of 2012 (Common Cause Vs. UOI & Ors.) as well as other connected PILs, vide its judgment dated 25.08.2014 and order dated 24.09.2014, had cancelled the allocation of 204 captive coal blocks out of 218 coal blocks (except 1 for Steel Authority of India Ltd., 1 for National Thermal Power Corporation and 12 coal blocks for Ultra Mega Power Projects) As regards the non- producing mines of Coal India Limited (CIL), there are 27 such coal mines out of which 5 are in West Bengal, 3 in Jharkhand, 7 in Chhattisgarh, 4 in Odisha and 8 in Maharashtra.

Thereasons for non production of CIL’s coal mines are – delay in obtainngstatutory clearances, land acquisition, finalization of contract, difficultgeo-mining condition and development of infrastructure facilities.

(c): The estimated Geological Reserves for theabove 178 non producing captive coal blocks is 50,000 MT and the 27 CIL’s CoalMines is 1200MT.

(d)& (e):The allocation of cancelled 204 coal blocks will be carried out as per the provisions of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014.

Asregards the coal mines of CIL are concerned, at present the mines are atdifferent stages of implementation.