Question : TENDER FLOATED BY MAHARASHTRA ELECTRICITY BOARD

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM)

(a) to d): Yes, Sir. In their letter dated 7.3.2000, Maharashtra State Electricity Board had requested Ministry of Coal, Government of India, for reserving the following blocks for extraction of coal by a joint venture company proposed to be formed by them:-

1. Manora (Deep)

2. Hardole

3. Hand-Nad-Alesur

4. Markardhokda

5. Ghonsa-Borda
6. Bhandak

7 Agarzari

8. Warora.

In the same letter, MSEB informed that they had forwarded a proposal to Govt. of Maharashtra for formation of a joint venture company for meeting their future requirements. Government of Maharashtra reportedly cleared MSEB’s proposal for formation of joint venture company for extracting the coal from virgin blocks in Vidharbha area of Maharashtra. Tender of selecting a joint venture partner had been published and finalisation of joint venture partner is being processed.

In response to Bid Document published by MSEB for selection of Joint Development Partner to undertake captive mining of coal through the formation of joint venture company, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Western Coalfields Limited, requested MSEB in April, 2000 to delete the names of blocks mentioned in Bid Document as these blocks were in the detailed production programme of WCL drawn for IX, X and beyond Xth Plan. CMD/WCL through his letter dated 28/29.8.2000 addressed to Chairman, MSEB, further suggested that MSEB might like to identify the block and if desired, WCL and MSEB could form a Joint Venture Company subject to Government guidelines and approval with coal pricing on cost plus basis.