Question : ALLOCATION OF COAL FROM EASTERN COAL BELT

(a) whether Gujarat and other States of the western part of India are being allocated coal from eastern coal beft;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the criteria/norms being followed in this regard;

(c) whether the State Government of Gujarat has submitted any request to the Union Government for allocation of coal to the State from Western/Northern Coalfields and other collieries located near to the State; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a) & (b): The power utilities of Gujarat are predominantly supplied (about 95%) coal from the coalfields of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) located in the State of Chhattisgarh in Central and East Central India. A small quantity of coal is also allocated from the coalfields of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) located in the State of Maharashtra in Central India. Power Utilities of Maharashtra are being supplied about 35% of coal from the States of Orissa and Chhattisgarh and the rest from Western Coalfields Limited. The decision on source allocation of coal was taken on the basis of long term availability of coal in the source, potential for incremental production, transport logistics etc.

(c) & (d): A communication has been received by Ministry of Coal from an Hon`ble member of Parliament suggesting allocation of coal to Gujarat State from collieries of Western Coalfields Limited. Presently, 95% of coal supplies to the Power Utilities of Gujarat are from the coalfields of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) located in the State of Chhattisgarh. South Eastern Coalfields Limited is the nearest coalfields wherein coal is available on a long-term basis. All the power stations of Gujarat come under the purview of Ministry of Environmental and Forest stipulations and are required to use coal with ash content below 34% which is available from SECL coalfields. Further, keeping in view the existing coal commitments of Western Coalfields Limited and with no perceptible growth prospect in coal production in the coming years in Western Coalfields Limited, it may not be possible to consider any further rationalization of sources from WCL for the power plants of Gujarat at this stage.