GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COAL

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4154

ANSWERED ON:07.08.2014

COMMERCIAL MINING WORK

ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

(a) whether the commercial mining work is not being undertaken despite making huge investment for carrying mining in captive coal blocks in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the overall investment made for the purpose;

(c) the total amount of investment made for coal mining and related industries i.e. steel, power and cement out of the said amount;

(d) whether the reason for delay in coal mining is the non-receipt of necessary approvals from the Government Departments; and

(e) if so , the details thereof?

Will the Minister of COALbe pleased to state:

 MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR COAL,

POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

 (a): Captive coal blocks were allocated for specified end use plants linked with the allocated coal blocks and for commercial mining by Public Sector Units (PSUs).

(b) & (c): As per the information compiled by the Coal Controller’s Organisation, a total investment of Rs. 2,91,623.63 crores has been made by coal Block Allocatees of 138 coal blocks which stood allocated as on March, 2014 (allocated for captive purposes as well as for commercial mining by PSUs) in the development of coal block as well as associated end use projects. The amount of investment is as per investment certificate submitted by block allocatees to the Coal Controller’s Organisation.

(d) & (e): An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) reviews the development of Captive Coal blocks. While non-receipt of necessary approval from authorities concerned is one of the reasons for delay in development of coal blocks among others, the IMG has also found lack of adequate initiative on the part of Coal Block allocatees in obtaining requisite clearances in several cases. The responsibility for development of the allocated coal block and investment in required infrastructure as well as obtaining all necessary statutory clearances, including environment and forest clearances, from the authorities concerned rests entirely with the allocatee company.