(a) whether the coal mines in Odisha are not being utilized upto their full capacity despite having good potential;
(b) if so, the details thereof ; and
(c) The steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to increase the output of coal mines in Odisha?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, MINES, POWER AND NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL).
(a) & (b): Yes, it is a fact that some of the opencast projects (OCP) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, are not being utilized up to their full capacity despite having good potential for coal production. The projects namely, Ananta OCP, Kanhia OCP, Hingula OCP and Balram OCP have not been able to achieve the rated production capacity due to delays in obtaining forest clearance, environmental clearance, land acquisition and resettlement and rehabilitation issues.
(c) Following steps have been taken by MCL to increase coal production from its Mines/Projects.
(i) MCL is regularly pursuing the issues of Environmental Clearance (EC)/Forestry Clearance (FC) with the state authorities of the State Government of Odisha and also at MoEF&CC through Ministry of Coal (MOC) for expediting pending clearances to increase coal production. Also Ministry of Coal is addressing the issue through regular monitoring of projects through Coal Projects Monitoring Portal with Ministry of Environmental & Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and also meetings with State authorities.
(ii) The issues of resettlement, regular stoppage of Mine/Projects by the villagers and related other Law and Order problems are being taken up with State authorities by MCL. Also, Area General Managers are regularly pursuing such issues with District authorities for carrying out mining operations smoothly. Ministry of Coal is also addressing the issues through discussions with the State authorities.
(iii) To increase the coal production and dispatch from Basundhara Coalfield, a new Railway line (Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega) is under construction which is envisaged to be completed by June, 2017 for which Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Railways are regularly monitoring the status of implementation along with other critical rail connectivity projects for coal evacuation.
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