Review of Coal Mining Areas
An exercise has been taken up jointly by Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Environment & Forests to superimpose maps of coal bearing areas on maps of forest cover in case of nine coalfields with a view to identify prima-facie ‘Go’ and ‘No-Go’ areas for coal mining. The exercise being carried out in consultation with the concerned Ministries like Ministry of Power, Ministry of Steel is in advanced stage and estimation of impact on production is premature. This was stated by Minister of State for Coal, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.
He said that as on date out of 208 allocated coal blocks, 26 coal blocks have come into production which is around 12.5%. Development of coal blocks involves a gestation period of 3 to 7 years for reaching the production stage and another two to three years for reaching the optimal production capacity. As per the guidelines, coal production from a captive coal block should commence within 36 months (42 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of open cast mines and in 48 months (54 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of underground mine, from the date of allocation. If the coal block is not explored, additional two years are allowed for detailed exploration and three months for preparation of geological report.
Shri Jaiswal further said that the allocatees of coal blocks, which are yet to commence production, are in various stages of obtaining statutory clearances and mining lease, preparing mining plan, acquisition of land, procuring machinery and equipment etc. for both mining as well as end-use project. Obtaining of statutory clearances like environment and forest clearances are mandatory for the coal block allocattees. The responsibility of obtaining statutory clearances and developing the coal block as per the prescribed guidelines and milestone chart attached with the allocation letter rests entirely with the allocattee company.
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