Question : TRANSPORTATION OF COAL

(a) whether the Coal India Limited (CIL) has issued any direction to South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL) and other Coal companies for adopting Global Position System (GPS)/Electronic Surveillance Systems (ESS) for the transportation of coal;

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

(c) whether these coal companies have followed the aforesaid directions;

(d) if not, the reasons therefor and the action taken against them;

(e) whether CIL proposes to introduce open tendering system in Coal Companies particularly in SECL for transportation of coal;

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

(g) whether the rate of Ex-Servicemen Transport Companies Operator in CIL particularly SECL is more than the rate payable to Civilian Transport Companies;

(h) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor,

(i) whether CIL has increased rate of Ex-Servicemen Transport Companies during the last two years and the current year; and

(j) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL AND MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a) and (b): Yes, Sir. It has been decided by Coal India Limited (CIL) to adopt Global Positioning System (GPS) based Truck Despatching System (TDS) and Electronic Surveillance System (ESS) in CIL and its subsidiary companies. GPS based TDS is being used by mining industry worldwide for. maximizing productivity. CIL need GPS based TDS for operation enhancement of transport system. ESS is required for safety and security purpose.

(c) and (d): Coal companies have initiated procurement action for setting up these systems and there is no reason for any action against coal companies.

(e) and (f): In SECL, open tenders are being called for the work of transportation of coal from surface to surface, wagon loading and removal of overburden. The Director General of Resettlement (DGR) sponsored ESM companies are being deployed for the work of transportation of coal from face to surface.

(g) and (h): The Ex-Servicemen (ESM) transport companies are deployed in SECL as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between CIL and DGR, Ministry of Defence. The ESM transport companies are sponsored by DGR, New Delhi. The rates applicable to these agencies are normative rates derived on the basis of scientific study conducted by an outside agency. The rates have been derived in respect of the following:

(i) For transportation of coal from face to surface; and

(ii) For transportation of coal from surface to surface.

ESM transport companies have been engaged for transportation from face to surface and no civilian contractors are being engaged to carry out this work as such there is no rate available for comparison.

Normative rates have also been derived for transportation from surface to surface. Rates awarded to civilian contractors for transportation in surface are lower than these normative rates.

(i) and (j): CIL Board in its 246th meeting held on 13.11.2008 has approved revised new normative rates for transportation of coal from face to surface and surface to surface for higher capacity tippers being used by ESM companies.