MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES ( SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a)&(b): The target of coal production as assessed by Planning
Commission for the terminal year of 9th Five Year Plan i.e. 2001-
02 and actual (provisional) for the current year upto September,
2001 is given below:
(in million tonnes)
Original Mid-Term Annual Plan Actual Appraisal 2001-02 (Provisional) upto September, 2001
370.60 328.86 322.73 141.823
(c): The details of demand (as assessed by the Planning
Commission) and consumption of coal in the country during 2000-01
is given below:
(in million tonnes)
Items 2000-01 Demand 333.85 Consumption + 334.42
+ Provisional
(d): The following strategies have been formulated to enable
coal sector to become self-reliant in the coal production.
(1) To open new mines and increase efficiency and productivity
in the existing mines by modernisation, application of new
technologies and to ensure timely availability of inputs and
infra-structural facilities
(2) To take steps to remove the bottlenecks in land acquisition
and forest land clearance for speedier implementation of coal
projects.
(3) To take steps to securitise the outstanding coal sale dues
of coal Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) against defaulting
SEBs.
(4) To take steps in co-ordination with the Railways to remove
the transportation bottlenecks in coalfield areas having
potential for enhanced production.
(5) Apart from above Coal India Ltd. is making concerted efforts
to reduce the production cost of coal by resorting to various
measures viz. rationalisation of manpower, improvement in
capacity utilisation, removal of bottlenecks in timely completion
of coal projects, judicious planning, economy in expenditure, and
maintaining good industrial relations.
(6) To take steps to improve the quality of coal through
selective mining and beneficiation.
(7) To supplement the resources required for investment in new
projects and infuse modern technology and management systems and
practices by entering into joint venture for development of green
field project.
(8) To integrate environmental & social mitigation measures
with mine development plans.
(9) The Government is also planning to effect necessary
legislative amendments to facilitate entry of private sector in
commercial coal mining.
