Question : ALLOCATION OF COAL BLOCKS

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) Exploration for coal is a continuous process. As a result of exploration carried out up to the maximum depth of 1200 meters by the Geological Survey of India, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, a cumulative total of 301.56 Billion tonnes of Geological Resources of Coal have so far been estimated in the country as on 01.04.2014. The details of state-wise geological resources of coal are given below:-

 
	(Figures in Million Tonnes after rounding off) State	Proved	Indicated	Inferred	Total West Bengal	13403	13022	4893	31318 Jharkhand	41377	32780	6559	80716 Bihar	0	0	160	160 Madhya Pradesh	10411	12382	2879	25673 Chhattisgarh	16052	33253	3228	52533 Uttar Pradesh	884	178	0	1062 Maharashtra	5667	3186	2110	10964 Orissa	27791	37873	9408	75073 Andhra Pradesh	9729	9670	3068	22468 Assam	465	47	3	515 Sikkim	0	58	43	101 Arunachal	31	40	19	90 Pradesh Meghalaya	89	17	471	576 Nagaland	9	0	307	315 Total	125909	142506	33149	301564 
 

Coal block is an administratively determined area for the purpose of allocation. The entire coal reserves of the country are not divided in the coal blocks and therefore, distribution of coal reserves in the country coal block-wise and value of coal reserves are not available. Further, value of coal reserves is dependent on mineable quantity of coal, its quality, geo-mining conditions, etc. and thus value of coal reserves can only be assessed after preparation of detailed mining plans/project reports.

(b) to (d): Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 25.08.2014 and order dated 24.09.2014 passed in W.P.(Criminal) No.120 of 2012 and other connected matters has declared all allocations of the coal blocks made through Screening Committee and through Government Dispensation route since 1993 as illegal and has cancelled the allocation of 204 coal blocks out of 218 coal blocks (i.e. exceptTasra coal block allocated to Steel Authority of India Ltd. and Pakri Barwadih coal block allocated to National Thermal Power Corporation and 12 coal blocks allocated for Ultra Mega Power Projects). In case of 42 coal blocks (37 producing and 05 likely to come under production), cancellation shall take effect from 31.03.2015. For management and reallocation of cancelled coal blocks, Government has promulgated ‘the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014’ on 21.10.2014to ensure smooth transfer of rights, title and interest in the mines along with its land and other associated mining infrastructure to the new allottees to be selected through an auction or allotment to government company, as the case may be.Allocation of other than the cancelled coal blocks are now required to be made in accordance with the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 and Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. The decision regarding allotment of coal blocks to public sector companies and allocation by auction to private and public sector companies as well as earmarking of blocks for various eligible sectors is made keeping in view the contemporary requirement of the sector at the time of earmarking.

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