MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) & (b): There is no shortage of coal in the country. The all India coal production in the year 2021-2022 was 778.19 Million Tonne (MT) in comparison to 716.083 MT in the year 2020-2021. Further, in the current financial year (upto June''22), the country has produced 204.876 MT of coal as compared to 156.11 MT during the same period of last year with a growth of about 31%.
Coal India Limited, the largest supplier of coal in the country, has dispatched 177.59 MT of coal in the first quarter of the current fiscal achieving a growth of 10.7% over last year same period. Similarly, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has dispatched 17.31 MT of coal in the first quarter of the current fiscal achieving a growth of 3.7% over the last year same period.
(c) & (d): The following steps have been taken to boost coal production in the country:
A. Coal India Limited (CIL) has envisaged enhancing its coal production to 1 Billion Tonne (BT) by the year 2024-25 by taking the following initiatives which is under implementation:
i. Capacity addition through approval of new & expansion Projects: CIL has approved 52 projects during FY 2021 & FY 2022. These projects will add additional capacity of about 278 MT per annum and projected to contribute additional production of about 102 MT by FY 2025.
ii. Capacity addition through special dispensation in EC under clause 7(ii) of EIA 2006: This is an ongoing process and CIL is enhancing its capacity through efficiency enhancement under the special dispensation of EIA Act.
iii. Capacity addition in smaller subsidiaries: Smaller subsidiaries like ECL & BCCL are enhancing its capacity through marginal schemes and OC patches.
iv. Capacity augmentation through deployment of MDO: CIL has already initiated process for operating 15 numbers of mines through MDO having an ultimate capacity of about 169 MT per annum. All tenders shall be awarded by March’ 23.
v. Use of Mass Production Technology (MPT) in Under Ground (UG) mines wherever feasible: CIL is implementing the application of more and more MPT in UG mines wherever feasible to enhance its UG production capacity.
vi. Improving evacuation efficiency & capacity: Through First Mile Connectivity (FMC) 1 & 2, CIL is in the process of eliminating inefficient and polluting road transport in favour of 44 Coal Handling Plants (CHPs), Silos through rail transport
vii. Procurement of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM): Order value worth Rs. 8300 Crs have been placed for procurement of HEMM in CIL in 2019-20 & 2020-21. Equipment supply has been started during 2020-21 and will be followed during the subsequent years for enhancement of departmental production capacities.
viii. Enhancement in evacuation facility from the mines to destination: CIL has also invested heavily in evacuation and transport facility such as rail lines, roads & sidings and CHPs.
ix. Out sourcing mining contracts: All outsourcing mining contracts for subsequent year are identified well in advance and firm actions are being initiated well in advance.
x. IT initiatives: CIL has taken initiatives for improvement in productivity by enhancing efficiency of its mines with the introduction of Digitization of operation and introduction of ERP in two phases.
B. The following actions have been taken by the Government to further increase the coal production from captive mines are as below:
i. Regular Monitoring: A Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Coal) with Chief Secretaries from respective Host States, Secretary (MoEF& CC), Coal Controller Organization (CCO) & CMPDIL as members of the Committee to conduct regular reviews and to expedite the development of blocks.
ii. Enactment of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021: The Act provides that captive mines owners (other than atomic minerals) may sell up to 50% of their annual mineral (including coal) production in the open market after meeting the requirement of the end use plant linked with the mine in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government and on payment of such additional amount. This step is an attempt to stimulate the coal block allocattees to commence coal production early.
iii. Single Window Clearance: The Union government has launched Single Window Clearance portal on 11.01.2021 for the coal sector to speed up the operationalisation of coal mines. It is an unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India. Now, the complete process shall be facilitated through Single Window Clearance Portal, which will map not only the relevant application formats, but also process flow for grant of approvals or clearances. It includes already operational module for approval of mining plan and mine closure plan in a time bound manner and integration with Parivesh Portal, digital acceptance of objection under Section 8 (1) of Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, Consent Management System of Telangana & West Bengal. Further Ministry of Coal has added in its kitty of SWCS Project Information & Management Module which was launched on 14.06.2022 which is likely to facilitate project proponent as well as Ministry and State officials in monitoring and expeditious implementation of coal mines.
(e) & (f): To address the issues of coal supplies to power sector, an Inter-Ministerial Sub Group comprising of representatives from Ministries of Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways, CEA, CIL and SCCL meet regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to thermal power plants as well as for meeting any contingent situations relating to Power Sector including to alleviate critical coal stock position in power plants. Coal dispatch from the captive coal blocks is also being monitored regularly.
In addition to this, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted comprising of Chairman, Railway Board, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Secretary, Ministry of Power to monitor augmentation of coal supply and power generation capacity. Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Chairperson, CEA are co-opted as Special Invitees as and when required by the IMC.
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