Question : Prakash Portal

(a) whether all the Coal Mines and Blocks are being monitored under the Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony (PRAKASH) portal and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the challenges regarding tracking the coal stock faced by portal;

(c) whether the complaints and supply issues regarding the coal stock has been resolved by the PRAKASH portal and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is any scope of improving the current portal to reduce the inter-ministerial disputes and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether there is any mechanism to place the demand of coal by the power plants on the PRAKASH portal and if so, the details thereof and if not, the plan devised to include the same on the portal?

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a): The PRAKASH Portal has been developed by NTPC, a Central Public Sector Undertaking of Ministry of Power (MoP), for mapping and monitoring entire coal supply chain for power plants. The portal sources data from different stakeholders such as Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) and coal companies. Coal companies provide daily inputs on the portal related to coal company wise, siding wise transportation and opening stock at the siding and mode wise dispatch for power Sector.

(b): Coal India Limited(CIL)/Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has informed that no challenges are being faced by them.

(c): Reports regarding coal stock at power plants, coal in transit, and stock at CIL, sidings/Mines, coal materialization etc. are being generated/available in PRAKASH portal which can be used by stakeholders for decision-making.

(d): A team of Interdepartmental stakeholders works towards continuously improving working of the Portal.

(e): There is a dedicated mechanism i.e. on the portal (Freight Operations Information System-FOIS) developed by CRIS under Railways for placing rake demand by powerhouses which is endorsed by Coal companies subsequently sanctioned by Railways. However, Reports regarding Stock at power plants, coal in transit, stock at coal company sidings, Coal materialization etc. are being generated/ available in PRAKASH Portal which may be used for placing demand in the FOIS portal.

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