(a) whether the e-auction for the coal blocks has started and if so, the present status thereof;
(b) the details of the number of blocks that are being auctioned and the specified end-use for each;
(c) the expected timeline for the auction of all coal blocks; and
(d) the steps being taken to ensure that there is no trickle-down effect on price of coal due to the auction route?
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR COAL, POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (d): For management and reallocation of 204 coal mines/blocks cancelled by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, Government has promulgated ‘the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Second Ordinance, 2014’ on 26.12.2014. An Inter-ministerial Technical Committee was constituted to consider and recommend cancelled coal mines/blocks for auction and allotment as well as the specified end-uses for such blocks. The said Technical Committee has so far considered 110 coal mines/blocks. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, 65 coal blocks have been earmarked for auction and 45 coal mines for allotment along with the specified end-uses. Further for the purpose of auction, specified end-uses other than power viz. Iron & Steel, Cement and Captive Power Plants have been clubbed as “Non-Regulated Sector”. A table indi- cating 65 coal mines/blocks specified for auction along with specified end-uses is at Annexure. The process of e-auction has commenced with the publi- cation of a Notice Inviting Tenders (NIT) on 25.12.2014. The auction of coal blocks is an ongoing process and so far e-auction of 19 coal mines has been completed. The e-auction carried out so far is for captive use and therefore, will have no effect on the price of coal.