Question : CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATION OF COAL TO STATES

(a) whether the State of Gujarat is allocated coal from the eastern coal belt;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether any other States of the western part of India are being allocated coal from eastern coal belt;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the names of states;

(e) the criteria for allocation of coal to a State from the Western Collieries Ltd (WCL);

(f) whether the Union Government is considering to allocate coal to Gujarat from WCL; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION(SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a): No, Sir.

(b): Does not arise, in view of reply to part (a) above.

(c) &(d): Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation (MAHAGENCO) of Maharashtra is being supplied coal from Orissa coalfields. The quantity of coal dispatched to Mahagenco during 2008-09 was 4.43 million tonnes.

(e): The allocation of coal, including coal allocation from Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), on long term and short term basis was made by Standing Linkage Committee, an inter-Ministerial Committee, keeping in view the availability of coal, logistic arrangements for evacuation of coal, qualitative requirement as per Ministry of Environment and Forest norms etc.

(f) & (g): Presently, coal is being regularly moved to Ukai Power Plant in Gujarat from Western Coalfields Limited (WCL). Keeping in view the existing coal commitments of WCL and with no perceptible growth prospect in coal production in coming years at WCL, it may not be possible to consider any further rationalization of source from WCL for power plants of Gujarat at this stage.