(a) the total number of coal mines of North Eastern Coalfields Ltd. at present, location wise;
(b) the number of mines out of these running into losses, and the losses suffered by each mine during
each of the last three years, as on date;
(c) the reasons therefor, mine-wise; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to improve the functioning and check losses of these mines?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI SYED SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN)
(a) to(d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House .
Statement referred to in parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha
Starred Question No.14 by Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar
for 20.2.2001 regarding Losses in Coal Mines.
14th Position
(a) There are 7 (seven) coal mines, at present, in North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), the details of which are as follows:-
S. Name of the Location Whether No. mine/colliery underground (U.G.)/open cast(OC)mine
1 Jeypore-Dilli PO-NTPC, District- Underground Colliery Dibrugarh, Assam mine 2 Tipong Colliery PO-Tipong, Via. -do- Ledo, District- Tinsukia, Assam 3 Baragolai PO Baragolai, Via. -do- Colliery Margherita, District-Tinsukia, Assam 4 Ledo Colliery PO Ledo, District- -do- Tinsukia, Assam 5 Tikak Colliery PO Ledo, District- Open cast mine Tinsukia, Assam 6 Tirap Colliery PO Dedo, District- -do- Tinsukia, Assam
North Eastern Coalfields has also one exploratory coal mine at Simsang in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. However, coal production has not started from Simsang Colliery as yet.
(b) All the 4 underground mines are running in losses as on date. The losses suffered by each mine during the last three years are as follows:-
(Figs in crores) Name of the 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 mine/collier y Jeypore- -2.95 -3.21 -3.50 Dilli Colliery Tipong -19.60 -21.20 -24.60 Colliery Bargolai -19.59 -20.66 -23.84 Colliery Ledo -8.30 -11.50 -14.34 Colliery
(c) The reasons for losses applicable to all the four U/G mines in NEC are as follows:
i) Difficult mining condition, viz., steeply inclined seams, weak roofs and sides and friable coal resulting in heavy support cost for steel and timber ;
ii) Acidic water in all mines require stainless steel pumps, fibre glass and HDPE pipes , resulting in high cost of pumping ;
iii) Coal prone to spontaneous heating requires heavy expenditure on sealing. Old and long distance mines involve heavy costs in maintenance of roadways, tracks, support system and telecommunication and high transportation cost;
iv) Inputs such as explosive, timber, stores and steel etc. are not available locally. These are to be brought over long distances from other states resulting in heavy transportation cost;
v) Power supply to units is poor with long interruption and poor voltage;
vi) Ventilation at heavy cost to long distance/degree- III underground gassy mines;
vii) Surplus manpower on surface are basically unproductive because of law and order problems. It is difficult to shift them to other underground mines/other mines of Coal India Limited (CIL); and
viii) Due to acute insurgency and law and order problems, heavy security is required for explosive magazines and transport of explosives within North Eastern States and for protection of key executives, staff and workers resulting in heavy expenditure.
(d) The following steps are being taken to improve the functioning and to check losses of these coal mines :
i) Reduction in manpower and the surplus manpower is either being granted voluntary retirement scheme or being transferred to other companies;
ii) Development of new areas such as South Limb New Incline, and OCP (PQ Block, Jeypore) and development of Ledo colliery is proposed;
iii) Setting up of pithead thermal power plants- Assam State Electricity Board has already floated tenders for 2X60 mega watts thermal power station at Margherita;
iv) Improvement in plant load factor of Thermal Power Station, Salakati, so that more coal can be supplied from NEC; and
v) Better co-ordination with Railways to improve transportation of NEC Coal.