(a) whether the Government have closed some coal mines
in the country by declaring these sick during the last three
years and current year and also proposed to declare some
more mines as sick during the remaining period of the Ninth
Plan;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) the rationale behind this;
(d) whether the Government have taken any steps for
their revival; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINES & MINERALS (SMT. RITA VERMA)
(a) There is no legal provision under which the Central
Government can declare particular coal mines as sick. Under
the relevant provisions of Sick Industrial Companies
(Special Provisions) Act, 1985, a coal mining company can be
declared as a sick industrial company, only by the Board for
Industrial and Financial Reconstruction. Therefore, the
question of the Central Government closing down any coal
mine as a sick unit does not arise. Various coal companies,
however, under their respective Memorandum and Articles of
Association have powers to close down their coal mines on
techno-economic considerations.
(b) to (e) Do not arise in view of the answer to part
(a) of this question.