Lok Sabha Question No. 4770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Augmenting of Coal Reserves
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: M. I. SHANAVAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017 Augmenting of Coal Reserves

## 4770. SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of benefits accrued after the implementation of various programmes aimed at augmenting coal reserves in the country in the last 10 years;
- (b) the funds allocated, released and utilized for the implementation of various schemes by the Government during the 12th Five Year Plan;
- (c) the reasons for non-utilization of funds during the said period;
- (d) whether the Government has reviewed the utility of the said schemes with a view to improve them further;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor; and
- (f) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  proper  implementation  of  the schemes in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER,    NEW  AND  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  AND  MINES  (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): There are two Central Sector Schemes of Ministry of Coal(MoC) i.e. Detailed Drilling in  Non-CIL  blocks  and  Promotional(Regional)  Exploration  aimed  at  augmenting  coal reserves in the country .

The total estimated quantum of coal resource in the country was 253.30 billion tonnes (as on 01.04.2006), which increased to 308.80 billion tonnes (as on 01.04.2016) as per Geological Survey of India due to the efforts put in for exploration of coal.

- (b): The year-wise targets and achievements of fund allocation/utilization in Detailed Drilling in Non-CIL blocks during the XII Five Year Plan are furnished below:

| Fund Provision/Release/Utilization (In Crore)   | Fund Provision/Release/Utilization (In Crore)   | Fund Provision/Release/Utilization (In Crore)   | Fund Provision/Release/Utilization (In Crore)   |
|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|                                                 | BE                                              | RE                                              | Fund Released By MoC/ Utilisation               |
| 2012-13                                         | 150.00                                          | 215.00                                          | 200.59                                          |
| 2013-14                                         | 175.00                                          | 205.00                                          | 184.50                                          |
| 2014-15                                         | 205.00                                          | 155.00                                          | 135.71                                          |
| 2015-16                                         | 168.00                                          | 168.00                                          | 151.20                                          |
| 2016-17                                         | 89.50                                           | 89.50                                           | 80.55                                           |

Note:  There has been 100% utilisation excepting the NER component during 2012-17.

The  year-wise  targets and  achievements  of  fund  allocation/utilization  in  Promotional (Regional) Exploration in the XII plan are given in table below:

|         |   BE |   RE |   Fund Released/ Utilised by MoC |
|---------|------|------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13 |   76 |   27 |                            19    |
| 2013-14 |   50 |   70 |                            64    |
| 2014-15 |   63 |   63 |                            58.82 |
| 2015-16 |  115 |  115 |                           105.05 |
| 2016-17 |   50 |   50 |                            45    |

Note:  There has been 100% utilisation excepting the NER component during 2013-17.

(c): Non utilisation of funds during the XII plan period is mainly due to non-availability of statutory  prospecting  permission  for  drilling  in  forest  areas  from  Forest  Authorities  and adverse  law  &  order  conditions  by  local  people  at  some  places.  Due  to  above  reasons, exploration programme of a number of blocks could not be taken up or abandoned resulting in less work / utilization of fund.

(d)  (e)&(f): Regular  reviews  are  conducted  to  monitor  the  status  of  implementation  of  the schemes by the Ministry of Coal and pending issues are  addressed  with  State  and  Central authorities.    Further,  Ministry  of  Coal  has  taken  up  the  issue  of  simplified  procedure  for forest clearance for prospecting with MoEF&CC and the matter is under consideration of the Government.

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