(a) whether the Union Government has received any request/proposal from the Government of Chhattisgarh regarding allotment of coal mines;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government thereon;
(c) whether the Union Government has also received any request from the Government of Chhattisgarh to increase the percentage of basic price of coal from 14 per cent to 30 per cent; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR COAL, POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) & (b): Government of Chhattisgarh have requested for allotment of coal mines. However, allocation of coal mines/ blocks are made under the provisions of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act, 1957. Government of Chhattisgarh may apply for the allocation of the coal mines/blocks as and when Notice Inviting Application is published by this Ministry.
3 coal mines viz. Gare Palma Sector III, Gidhmuri & Paturia, have been allocated to Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited, a State Government company, under the provisions of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Rules made thereunder after inviting applications.
Further, Ministry of Coal has recommended Batati Kolga coal blocks in Chhattisgarh for Chhattisgarh Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) to the Ministry of Power for examining the suitability of the recommended coal blocks for the Chhattisgarh UMPP.
(c) & (d): Comments of Government of Chhattisgarh were received to increase the rate of royalty from existing 14 % to 30 % in response to the questionnaire circulated to all stakeholders by the Study Group constituted to consider the revision of rate of royalty. However, no request has been received from Government of Chhattisgarh to increase the percentage of basic price of coal from 14 per cent to 30 per cent. Government is consulting various stakeholders to decide the rate of royalty.
*****