Question : EXPLOITATION OF COAL

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL

(N.T.SHANMUGAM)

a) The grade-wise production of coal in underground(UG) and open-cast(OC) mines of Coal India Limited(CIL) during the year 1999-2000 is as follows:

(in lakh tonnes)
Grade UG OC Total
Coking Coal 111.14 161.26 272.40
Non Coking Coal
Grade `A` 30.31 5.48 35.79
Grade `B` 152.03 51.53 203.56
Grade `C` 131.98 255.69 387.67
Grade `D` 82.83 244.16 326.99
Grade `E` 10.29 439.62 449.91
Grade `F` 4.66 924.85 929.51
Total Non 412.10 1921.33 2333.43
Coking
Grand Total 523.24 2082.59 2605.83

(b)&(c): Yes, Sir. The reserves of superior grade(grades A, B, C & D- proved category estimated by the Geological Survey of India, as on 1.1.2000, in the command areas of CIL, are given below:-

(in million tonnes)
Depth Grade-A Grade-B Grade-C Grade-D Total

(Meter)
0-600 1158 3966 8481 10338 23943

The proved reserves are established through detailed drilling which is mainly conducted by Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL).

(d) Establishment/discovery of proved superior grades of coal will not immediately give rise to increase in production of superior grade as detailed geological study, preparation of detailed project report, infrastructure planning and development, tying up of consumers, environmental clearance, source of funding and economic viability are some of the extra steps which will be taken before a project can be approved and started. In view of this, no significant impact on import of coal on this account is foreseen immediately.

(e) Steps taken for improvement in production of high quality coals are:-
i) Scientific mining of coal in U/G mines so as to avoid mixing up stones/shale bands with coal production.
ii) Cleaning of coal bench before blasting manually or mechanically to avoid any dirt/overburden mixing with the blasted coal in case of mining.
iii) Keeping the overburden faces sufficiently ahead to reduce any chance of overburden mixing with coal produced.
iv) Picking of stone/shale pieces at the coal depot at the railway siding, and during loading of coal to wagons by manual means to improve quality.
v) Installation of mini CHP/CHP for mechanised loading of proper quality of coal and segregation of extraneous material.
vi) Installation of washeries for both coking and non- coking coal.