(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to make Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Coal, profitable;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the names of loss making PSUs, the amount of loss involved therein and the reasons therefor;
(d) whether any action has been taken to shut down these loss making PSUs;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there is any scheme to merge or disinvest these
loss making units; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL AND MINISTER
OF STATE (IC) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a)&(b) : Under Ministry of Coal, two PSUs are functioning
i.e. Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation
(NLC). There are eight subsidiary coal companies functioning
under CIL. Both CIL and NLC are profit making PSUs. However,
out of eight subsidiaries of CIL, only two subsidiaries i.e.
(1) Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and (2) Bharat Coking
Coal Limited (BCCL) are loss making. Government has taken
initiatives for revival of these two subsidiaries. Revival
package for ECL was approved in October, 2006. Revival scheme
for BCCL has also been approved by the Board for
Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSEs) and the
Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).
(c) : The accumulated losses of ECL and BCCL as on
31.03.2009 was Rs.8,567.40 crore and Rs.8,315.07 crore
respectively. The major reasons for loss making for these two
subsidiaries are given as under :
1. ECL: The main reasons of loss in ECL are :
i. Large number of underground mines having low unit
production and dismal level of productivity. Some of the
opencast mines are also incurring losses due to
disproportionate manpower on roll, high stripping ratio and
low capacity utilization.
ii. Difficult geo-mining conditions such as high degree of
gassiness, seams susceptible to spontaneous heating, presence
of waterlogged working in the upper seams, thick and inclined
seams etc.
iii. Limited scope of opencast mining.
iv. Extensive manual loading of coal at underground mines
requiring higher manpower leading to low production and
productivity.
v. Transfer of surplus manpower from one mine to another
for gainful deployment is resisted by Trade Unions.
vi. Due to presence of important surface features and other
adverse geo-mining conditions, hydraulic sand stowing has to
be resorted to in many mines increasing the operational cost
by Rs. 200-250/Te additionally in these mines.
2. BCCL : The sickness of BCCL is mainly attributed to
the following reasons :
i. Excessive manpower inherited by BCCL from the erstwhile
owners at the time of taking over of mines, disproportionate
to the production at that time.
ii. The incidence of progressive hike of wages unrelated to
the paying capacity of the Company.
iii. Insufficient investment in mining equipments due to
acute fund crunch leading to ageing of equipments, shrinkage
of capacity resulting in decrease in production.
iv. Problem of working capital rendering the company
incapable of paying for procurement of critical stores and
spares and safety items in time, affecting production
adversely.
v. Non-availability of land.
vi. Difficult working conditions.
vii Backlog of welfare amenities resulting in disenchantment
and despair among the employees, non co-operation of trade
unions and poor industrial relations.
(d)&(e) : Do not arise in view of reply to part (a) & (b) above..
(f)&(g) : No, Sir.