Lok Sabha Question No. 248 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Transportation of Coal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.248 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## TRANSPORTATION OF COAL

## †*248 .  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the railway freight charges for transportation of coal in  the  country  along  with  the  names  of  railway  stations  in  the country including Jharkhand  where  siding facility has been provided for transportation of coal;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that local residents of certain cities are facing difficulties due to fly ash during transportation of coal from the railway station located adjacent to these cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  shift  the work  of  transportation  of  coal  from  the  said  railway  stations  to some other stations; and
- (d) whether the Government has received any complaints of corruption in the railways relating to transportation of coal, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government on the said complaints?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.248 BY SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.07.2019 REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OF COAL

(a) The  latest  freight  rates  for  Coal  &  Coke  are  published  in  Goods Tariff No.49, Part-I (Vol.II) & Part II and the same is available at Indian Railway official website http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic

\_comm/GOODS%20TARIFF%20NO\_49%20%20PART%20I%20VOL\_PART%

20-%20II\_Rev\_120219.pdf.    Freight  is  charged  according  to  distanceslabs. The tariff is uniform throughout the country.

There  are  3490  number  of  sidings  and  railway  goods  sheds  currently open for handling of coal traffic in the country, including 317 sidings and railway goods sheds in Jharkhand. However, during 2018-19, loading was done  from  only  668  sidings  and  railway  goods  sheds,  including  104  in State  of  Jharkhand.  List  of  Coal  sidings  and  railway  goods  sheds  are available at Indian Railway official website http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic \_comm/downloads/Freight\_Rate\_2019/List\_Coal\_Siding\_090719.pdf

(b) Fly ash is not transported in loose condition by rail and, therefore, there is no pollution during the transportation by rail. However, as far as coal  is  concerned,  by  and  large,  the  loading  &  unloading  points  are mostly situated away from the residential areas. However Railways have taken a series of measures to control pollution. Detailed guidelines have

been issued to  Zonal Railways, whereby 'consent to establish' for new sidings and railway goods sheds and 'consent to operate' for the existing sidings is required to be obtained from respective State Pollution Control Board  (SPCB),  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Pollution  Act. Measures to control pollution include water sprinkling systems, adequate green cover and dust screen walls along periphery of premises.

(c) In cases where complaints have been received regarding pollution due to coal dust, Railway Administration have either enforced pollution control measures or shifted/closed the coal handling points. Details are appended.

(d)

No, Sir.

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APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.248 BY SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.07.2019 REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OF COAL

Action Taken by Zonal Railway for shifting/closure of coal handling points

1. Western Railway: Restriction for coal handling at Chaltan Goods shed was received from Gujarat Control Pollution Board. The same has been closed for handling of traffic of coal.
2. South Western Railway: Due to public protests by the residents of the town of Vasco, the Goa Pollution Control Board imposed restriction for loading of coal during the year 2018-19. On satisfactory compliance by Mormugao  Port  Trust  authorities  with  the  stipulations  of  Pollution Control Board, loading of coal had been suspended, and since resumed subject  to  strict  precautions  to  avoid  coal  dust  pollution,  including covering of wagons by tarpaulins.
3. Northern Railway: A notice was served to M/s Nabha Power Ltd./Rajpura by Pollution Control Board due to pollution on account of unloading  of  coal  at  Mandi  Gobindgarh.  The  coal  handling  was withdrawn from Mandi Gobindgarh to their own siding in power house. In  respect  of  unloading  of  coal  at  Ayodhya,  the  residents  of  nearby locality  filed  a  writ  petition  in  Hon'ble  High  Court  who  ordered  that water sprinkling may be done regularly during unloading of coal. The orders are being strictly followed.
4. South  East  Central  Railway:  Resident  near  Uslapur  Public  Siding complained  regarding  pollution,  hence,  this  public  siding  has  been closed.

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