Question : COAL BLOCKS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

(a) whether the Government proposes to incre the number of coal blocks to the private sector in OR to meet the coal shortage;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether all the coal mines being operated by I public sector are producing coal in low quantity;

(d) if so, whether any assessment has been made about assigning the coal blocks of such mines to private sector;

(e) if so, whether the private sector plans to surpass the target and demand of coal by the year 2011-12;

(f) if so, the details in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY COAL (DR.DASARI NARAYAN RAO):

(a) and (b) 81 coal blocks having total geological reserves of about 20.02 billion tonnes have been identified for allocation to Government companies/private sector for permissible end-uses.

(c) No, Sir. Production of coal by Coal India Limited (CIL) for the last three years has been more than the targets fixed.

(d) Blocks earmarked for CIL were reviewed recently. 48 coal blocks, which were not included in the production plan of CIL for the XI Plan, were taken out from the CIL

(e) and (f) About 56 coal blocks have been allocated to private sector companies/permissible end users so far. They should be contributing significantly to raise the coal production by 2011-12.