(a) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Union Government for the introduction of modern technology in the field of coal production;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the mines of Western Coalfields Ltd. identified by the Government for the purpose; and
(d) the extent to which the introduction of modern technology is likely to boost the underground production of coal in Western Coalfields Ltd.?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a) & (b) : No Sir. No proposal is under consideration of the Union Government for the introduction of
modern technology in the field of coal production. However, Coal India Ltd., (CIL) and Singareni Collieries
Co. Ltd. (SCCL) keep introducing modern technologies as per the requirements from time to time.
(c) & (d) : While the proposed mechanisation in the five mines of Western Coalfields Ltd. (WCL) by
introducing Continuous Miner technology is expected to increase the production from current level
of 1.0 million tonne to 3.62 million tonne in the next 4 to 5 years time, it however does not add to
overall increase in the production of WCL due to depletion of reserves and fall in production in other
mines.