Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Decline in Coal Output
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2019

## Decline in Coal Output

## *121. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)
- the reasons for the decline in coal output;
- (b) the manner in which such decline will affect the  thermal power sector; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  to  increase  the  coal  output,  considering  the  current economic situation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a)to(c): A  statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 121 FOR ANSWER  ON  27/11/2019  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI, M.P. REGARDING 'DECLINE IN COAL OUTPUT'.

(a): All India raw coal production increased from 565.77 MT in 2013-14 to 730.35 MT (Prov.) in 2018-19, an absolute increase of 164.58 MT as compared to increase of coal production of 73.01 MT between 2008-09 and 2013-14. While there was a positive growth in production in the first quarter of the current year (April-June  19),  production  has  been  slipping  since  July.  This  is  largely  because  of heavy  rainfall  witnessed  in  coal  mining  areas  of  the  country.  This  year  rainfall  has continued  in  the  month  of  October  also  which  hampered  the  growth  in  production during this month that normally taken place after the rainy session. (b): During the current year (April-October 2019), though there has been a decline in dispatch to Power sector, it has not affected the coal availability position at the Power House  end.  Presently,  stock  at  Power  House  end  stands  at  22.78  MT  as  on 19.11.2019,  equivalent  to  14  days'  consumption  with  5  power  plants  under  critical list, as against last year same day's stock of 11.68 Million tonnes, equivalent to 7 days' consumption, with 25 Power plants reeling under criticality. (c ): The coal production of CIL and its subsidiaries is being reviewed regularly at the highest level of Ministry. CIL has been asked to make all out efforts to reach the target by improving production in the remaining months of the current year. The focus of the Government is on accelerating domestic production of coal through allocation of more coal blocks, pursuing with State Government for assistance in land acquisition and coordinated efforts with Railways for movement of coal. Prior  to  ongoing  tranche  of  coal  allocation,  coal  blocks  were  allocated  to  private companies for captive use purpose only and not for sale of coal. In the current tranche of  auction,  25%  of  coal  production  has  been  allowed  for  sale  of  coal  for  private

companies.

In order to enhance coal production, CIL has taken the following steps:

-  Opening of 55 greenfield projects having capacity of 92 MTPA and expansion of 193 brownfield projects having capacity of about 310 MTPA in next five years.
-  Portal  based  monitoring  of  on-going  projects  to  ensure  timely  completion  of projects.
-  Introduction of state of the art technology to improve its work efficiency with high capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), like 42 cum Shovel and 240 T Rear Dumpers in Gevra Expansion, Dipka & Kusmunda open cast mines.
-  Introduction  of  Surface  Miners  in  opencast  mines  to  improve  operational efficiency  &  to  cater  to  environmental  needs.    During  2018-19  in  CIL,  around 50% of the opencast coal production was through Surface miners.
-  Introduction of Mass Production Technology in underground coal mines, 2 mines are worked with Powered Support Longwall technology and 9 mines are worked with Continuous Miner technology.

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