Question : Auctioned Mines

(a) whether many of the auctioned mines were operational and could start mining operations, but the new allottees were facing problems over getting the statutory clearances such as forest and environmental clearances;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether most of these were in the realm of the State Governments and were being pursued by the Union Government as the output of these mines were critical to the Government''s plan to produce 1.5 billion tonnes of coal by 2020; and

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

MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR COAL, POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b): Coal mines included in Schedule-II of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 were operational. Ministry of Coal has taken proactive measures to ensure that statutory clearances including Environment and Forest Clearances by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change are transferred to the successful bidders and allottees expeditiously.

So far, out of a total of 67 coal mines successfully auctioned and allotted, Vesting / Allotment Orders have been issued in respect of 45 coal mines. Out of these 45 coal mines, Environment Clearances has been transferred in favor of successful bidder/allottee for 37 coal mines. As regards Forest Clearance, the same has been transferred in favor of successful bidder/allottee of 25 coal mines. In respect of 7 coal mines, no forest clearance is involved and in respect of 5 coal mines, transfer of forest clearance is not required as the Prior Allottees are the Successful Bidders / Allottees.
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(c)& (d): The Central Government has taken up the matter of expediting various clearances with the concerned coal bearing State Governments and has been regularly pursing with the authorities concerned with the objective of brining the successfully auctioned / allotted coal mines into production as soon as possible.

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