(a) whether the Coal India Limited has made agreement
with ONGC for commercial exploitation of coal bed Methane
in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any of the block from Western Coalfields
Limited has been chosen for development of CBM under this
agreement;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF COAL (SHRI KARIYA MUNDA)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Two blocks have been awarded to CIL-
ONGC consortium on nomination basis. These two blocks
are – Raniganj (about 356 Sq. KM) in the state of West
Bengal and another block at Jharia (about 85 Sq. KM) in
the state of Jharkhand. Coal India Limited has signed a
contract for the same along with ONGC with Government
of India on 6/2/2003.
(c): No, Sir.
(d): Does not arise in view of reply given to part (c) above.
(e): WCL blocks have not been considered for awarding to CIL-ONGC on nomination basis.