Question : ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE TO COAL BLOCKS

(a) the number of private companies to which coal blocks have been allocated, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken any initiative to facilitate grant of environmental and forest clearance to coal blocks allocated to private companies;

(c) if so, the details along with the number of coal blocks, out of the above, which have been granted environmental clearance;

(d) the reasons for delay in grant of environmental and forest clearance to these coal companies; and

(e) the time by which environmental clearance is likely to be granted to the remaining coal blocks?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL(SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)

(a): The details of coal blocks located in various States allocated to private companies, are given below:-

Name of the State where coal block is located No. of coal blocks allocated No. of private companies allocated coal blocks

Chhattisgarh	26	40
Jharkhand	32	37
Madhya	11	13
Pradesh
Maharashtra	19	24
Odisha	15	33
West Bengal	06	14