Lok Sabha Question No. 1637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Coal Mine Auction Targets
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, DHARMENDRA YADAV, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1637 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## Coal Mine Auction Targets

1637. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- a. whether State rules are undermining the Centre's coal mine auction goals;
- b. if so, the response of the Union Government thereon;
- c. whether States are insisting on fresh environment and forest clearance that have delayed the monetisation of auctioned blocks;
- d. if so, the details thereof;
- e. whether regulatory hurdles at the State Level are creating trouble for the Centre in meeting its ambitious coal mine auction targets;
- f. if so, the response of the Union Government thereon; and
- g. the steps taken by the Union Government to speed up the approval process?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE & CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (b)   Coal  Mine Auctions are done by Government of India under the provision of Coal Mine(Special Provisions) Act' 2015 & rules made under it. The State rules are not involved in auction of coal mines.
- (c)  to  (e)  Environment  Clearance(EC)  and  Forest  Clearance(FC)  are given by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Under Coal Mine(Special Provisions) Act' 2015,  the vesting order transfers and vest upon the successful bidder all the right, title and  interest of the prior allottee, any  statutory license, permit, permission,  approval  or  consent  required  to  undertake  coal  mining operations in coal mines if already issued to the prior allottee. But in case  of  change  of  coordinates  or  change  of  area  of  coordinates,

clearances  are  given  under  the  provision  of  Environment  (Protection) Act,1986 and Forest (Conservation) Act ,1980.

(f) to (g)  Monthly meetings with the officials of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) are held with coal ministry officials. In  order to speed up the grant of various clearances by the State, regular meetings at the level of Nominated  Authority and Secretary(Coal)  are held regularly:

( i ) Meetings by Nominated Authority : To speed up the operationalization  of  the  coal  mines,  the  Nominated  Authority  held meetings with the successful bidders / allottees  and  representatives  of State Government at regular intervals . So far, 15 meetings have taken place.

( ii ) Review meetings by Secretary ( Coal ) : A Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary ( Coal ) with Chief Secretaries from respective Host States, Secretary ( MoEF & CC ) , Coal  Controller  Organisation ( CCO ) &  CMPDIL  as  members  of  the Committee. Secretary ( Coal ) holds meeting with the Chief Secretaries of the host states and other concerned officers and Successful Bidders / Allottees  to  expedite  the  development  of  blocks . So  far,  9 meetings of Standing Committee have taken place.