(a) whether the Coal India Limited(CIL) proposes to deploy drones and other modus operandi to contain pilferage of coal in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) has proposed to set up a coal based thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the estimated cost of the project and the time by which it is likely to be set up?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL,POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES.
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a)&(b): Coal India Limited(CIL) has informed that there is no concrete proposal for deployment of drones to contain pilferage of coal. However, other modus operandi based on Information Technology has been adopted by CIL to contain pilferage of coal. These include:
(i) implementing ofGlobal Positioning System(GPS)based vehicle tracking system on trucks carrying coal to arrest diversion of coal en route.
(ii) installation of Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) at vulnerable points like entry/exit gate, weigh bridges, sidings etc. to keep a regular watch.
(iii) installation of Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) tags on vehicles with readers at suitable locations and boom barriers based on RFID to identify illegal trucks carrying coal.
(iv) connecting weigh bridges with Coal Net to capture and monitor weights of the coal carrying vehicles, etc.
Control rooms have been established in each areas of the company in order to take prompt action whenever any alert or exception report is generated from the vehicle tracking system.
(c) & (d): Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLC) has proposed to set up a coal based thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh in joint venture with Uttar Pradesh RajyaVidhyutUtpadan Nigam Limited(UPRVUNL). Government of India has sanctioned the Ghatampur Thermal Power Project (GTPP) of 1980 MW (3X660 MW) capacity on 20.07.2016 through Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NUPPL), a joint venture between NLC and Uttar Pradesh RajyaVidyutUtpadan Nigam Limited, Uttar Pradesh, at a cost of Rs.17237.80 crore. The date of commissioning of Units I, II and III is 52 months, 58 months and 64 months respectively from the date of sanction.
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