(a) whether the Government proposes to close down 60 Underground Mines as reported in the
Business Standard dated November 5, 2007;
(b) if so, the company-wise details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the total number of workers working in the mines, company-wise and the scheme formulated
for the rehabilitation of the affected workers; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government for production and supply of the requisite
quantum of Coal in the event of closure of these mines?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT AS MENTIONED IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 82 FOR ANSWER ON
21.11.2007 ASKED BY SHRI TEK LAL MAHTO AND SHRI BHUBNESWAR PRASAD MEHTA
REGARDING CLOSURE OF COAL MINES.
(a) to (d): The news item that appeared in the Business Standard, Kolkata on 5th
November, 2007 seems to be in reference to the Apex Joint Consultative
Committee (JCC) meeting held on 03.11.2007, where information with respect to loss
making underground mines was shared with the Apex JCC members. No decision has been
taken regarding closure of mines as reported. Measures proposed to step up coal production
include opening of new projects and optimization of capacity of existing coal mines by
adopting various methods such as mechanization, systems improvement etc.