(a) whether the South Eastern Coalfield Limited (SECL) has
been unable to recover dues pending against various Ex-
Service Men (ESM) companies and other contractors for many
years on account of providing lease rent, electricity,
maintenance and water supply even after audit objections;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the total amount yet to be recovered from ESM companies
and other contractors; and
(d) the steps taken by the SECL in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY
OF COAL AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE
MINISTRY STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION(SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (d): An audit para was raised by the commercial
audit indicating therein the non-recovery of electricity
charges of Rs.28,80,000 and Rs.31,20,000 towards rent and
water charges from the Ex-Servicemen companies deployed at
Gevra and Dipka Opencast Projects of South Eastern
Coalfields Limited (SECL), during October, 2000 to
September, 2004. Accordingly, a committee was constituted to
examine the issue of recovery of electricity charges, ground
rent for workshop/office, house and water etc. provided to
Ex-Servicemen transport companies. The committee has
recommended the recovery of Rs.35,80,340 towards electricity
charges during the period October, 2000 to September, 2004.
So far, Rs.24,56,370 have been recovered and the balance
amount of Rs.11,23,970 which was to be recovered from the
ESM transport companies could not be recovered as some of
them have completed their tenure and wound up their
operations in SECL. Concerned ESM companies have been asked
to deposit the outstanding amount and the Director General
Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence, who sponsored the
ESM companies, has been requested to take necessary action
to help recover the amount from the concerned ESM companies.
As far as recovery of other dues such as ground rent
for workshop/office, house, water charges are concerned,
the committee did not recommend any amount for recovery
since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between
DGR & Coal India Limited was not specific in this regard.
However, it was decided to incorporate necessary changes
in MoU in future dealings.