MINISTER OF COAL(SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 26 FOR REPLY ON 14.03.2012 ASKED BY SHRI MODUGULA VENUGOPALA REDDY
REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF COAL RESOURCES
(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. Development of coal includes both exploration and
production of coal. Out of 18279 sq. kms. of potential coal bearing area of the
country, 14013 sq. kms. of area (77%) stands covered under regional exploration till
the end of 11th Five Year Plan. Similarly, the area covered by detailed exploration is
7188 sq. kms. (about 40%). As a result of Regional, Promotional and Detailed exploration
carried out by Geological Survey of India, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited,
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), Singareni Collieries Company
Limited (SCCL) and some State Mining & Geology Departments the coal resources in the
country have increased from 267.211 BT (Billion Tonnes) in 2009 to 285.862 BT in 2011.
Further the proved reserves have increased from 105.720 BT to 114.002 BT. Details are
given in the table below.
As on Coal Resources (in Billion Tonnes) Proved Indicated Inferred
01/04/2009 105.720 123.570 37.921
01/04/2010 109.798 130.654 36.359
01/04/2011 114.002 137.471 34.389
Exploration is a continuous process and action has been initiated for enhancing
the efforts for exploration of coal through both increasing the drilling capacities of
CMPDIL and also through outsourcing. The objective is to quickly bring the available
resources into proved category for projecting the reserves and taking up new projects
in line with the rapidly increasing coal demand in the country.
The different steps taken in enhancing coal production include taking up of a number
of new projects by the public sector coal companies and allotment of a number of captive
coal blocks to both private and government companies, enhancing the delegation of powers
of Public Sector coal companies, persuasion and close interaction with the State and Central
Authorities for facilitating statutory clearances, land acquisition and related
rehabilitation & resettlement etc. have resulted in increase of coal production of the
country from 492.757 MT in 2008-09 to 533.076 MT in 2010-11. Company-wise details of coal
production are given below.
(in Million tonnes)
Company Year 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
CIL 403.73 431.26 431.32
SCCL 44.55 50.43 51.33
Captive Blocks 30.01 35.46 34.64
Others 14.47 14.89 15.79
Total 492.76 532.04 533.08
(c): Yes, Sir.
(d): The details and the salient features of the proposed Regulatory Authority are as under.
Government decided to set up a Coal Regulatory Authority in the country to regulate
and conserve resources in the coal sector, protect the interests of consumers and
producers of coal and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The major
objectives of the proposed authority would be more optimal development of coal resources
and to ensure that the Indian coal companies raise their level of competence to be at
par with international competitors.
The proposed Regulatory Authority is envisaged to perform the following functions
(a) grant authorization to any person for undertaking mining operations, production
and supply of coal and for establishing washeries;
(b) Suspend or cancel authorization;
(c) specify by regulation terms & conditions for authorization and alter
such conditions;
(d) specify by regulation standards of performance and operational norms;
(e) specify by regulation grades or quality of coal;
(f) monitor and enforce closure of mines as per approved mine project plan
towards closure of mines;
(g) ensure adherence of approved mining plan;
(h) determine the price of raw coal and washed coal and any other by-product
generated during the process of coal washing;
(i) recover amount of penalty imposed;
(j) call for information, record or other documents from the entities and
publish statistics and other data in relation to the coal industry;
(k) monitor utilisation of funds for implementation of coal conservation
and development;
(l) Take measures including providing incentives for taking up clean coal
technologies, coal bed methane, gasification etc.
(m) determine and levy fees in such manner as may be specified by regulation;
(n) specify by regulations procedure for automatic coal sampling and weighment.
(e)&(f): Ministry of Coal engaged Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI)
as a consultant to draft the Coal Regulatory Authority Bill. During the course of
preparation of the draft Bill, ASCI had held wide-scale consultations with all
stakeholders. The draft Bill prepared by them was circulated to various
Ministry/Departments for their comments. Views/comments of concerned Ministries/Department
have been obtained and suitably incorporated in the draft Bill. The Draft Bill is under
finalization in consultation with Ministry of Law for its introduction in Parliament
and after the passing of the Bill, the Regulatory Authority will be set up immediately.
