(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Andhra Pradesh
Government to divide Nuagaon Telisahi Coal block into two blocks on
recommendation of Geological Survey;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the proposal has been approved by the Government; and
(d) if not, the time by which the proposal is likely to be approved?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO)
(a) to (d): Nuagaon Telisahi coal block, allocated jointly to M/s Orissa Mining
Corporation and M/s Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation in August,
2006, is a regionally explored block. It was inter-alia stated in the terms and
conditions of allocation that whether the block could be operated as one mine or
otherwise would be determined by the Central Government after the detailed exploration
is completed, having regard to factors such as the interest of conservation, safety,
deployment of optimal technology for optimal extraction of coal, mine capacity, the
earliest commencement of production etc. Since, the detailed exploration in this block
has not been carried out so far, it is not possible to examine the possibility of dividing
the block into two parts at this stage.