MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL(SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a) & (b): The environment clearance from the Ministry
of Environment and Forest is not obtained by the Government
before allocating coal blocks. There is no statutory or procedural
requirement for the same.216 coal blocks with geological reserves
of about 50 billion tonnes have been allocated to eligible public
and private companies under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act,
1973. Of these, 24 coal blocks have been de-allocated.Of the
de-allocated coal blocks, two coal blocks were re-allocated to
eligible companies under the said Act.In view of above, the net
allocated blocks are 194 with geological reserves of about 44.44
billion tonnes.
(c): No, Sir,
(d): Does not arise in view of reply given at (c) above.
(e) & (f): The responsibility of developing the coal block as per
the prescribed guidelines and milestones rests entirely with the
allocattee companies who are required to obtain the statutory clearances
including forestery and environmental clearance for both mining as well
as end-use project. It is informed that at the time of advertising the
coal blocks for inviting applications from eligible companies, the
Ministry of Coal places in its official Website at www.coal.nic.in
all the relevant details of each coal block considered for allocation
including the location of the coal block (longitudes and latitudes),
estimated coal reserves, estimated coal grade etc. well in advance.
Further the guidelines for allocation of coal blocks are also placed
in the Website of Ministry of Coal. It is for the companies to exercise
due diligence before making application for allocation of a particular
coal block.
