Lok Sabha Question No. 1395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Inadequate Coal Transport
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: CHHOTELAL, MEENAKASHI LEKHI, RAM CHARITRA, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1395 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## Inadequate Coal Transport

## 1395. SHRI CHHOTE LAL:

## SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI: SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

## Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the road as well as the rail mode of coal transport are not performing upto the expectations which is leading to inadequate coal stock at power plants that are located at far distances from mines;
- (b)  whether  road  transportation  of  coal  faces  significant  issues  including  environmental concerns and resistance from local population;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle  the problem and to ensure efficient transportation of coal; and
- (d) whether it is also true that the coal companies should focus on increased use of conveyor belts of overhead ropeways, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): The average rake loading for power sector by CIL during April-Nov 2018 has been 251 rakes/day in comparison to loading of 216 rakes/day during the corresponding period of last year, thereby registering a growth of 16.60 %.

In  2018-19  (up  to  30.11.2018),  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL)  supplied  315.94  Million  Tonnes (MT) of coal  achieving a growth of more than 8% in coal supply to the power sector over the supply of 291.78 MT in the corresponding period of last year. Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has supplied 35.04 MT of coal to power plants (up to 30.11.2018).

Due to increased supply to Power Plants, coal based Power generation during the period of April-November  2018  has  been  99.16  %  of  program  with  a  growth  of  5.5  %  over  the generation in the corresponding period of last year.

Due  to  augmented  supply,  coal  stock  at  TPP  end  has  also  increased.  As  per  Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report, coal stock at Power House end as on 16.12.2018 is 15.52 Million Tonnes (MT) as against the stock of 12.20 MT on 16.12.2017 thereby registering an increase of 27.20%.

Loading for long lead power plants has also increased as the average lead for transportation of  coal  during  April-Nov  2018  has  increased  to  492  KM  against  469  KM  during  the corresponding period of last year.

As informed by Ministry of railways, Indian railways is supplying rakes for transportation of coal  as  per  demand  placed  by  coal  companies/consumers.  The  availability  of  wagons  is adequate  for  meeting  the  demand  for  rail  transport.  However,  demand-supply  imbalances, which  arise  intermittently  on  account  of  various  factors  like  fluctuations  in  demand, disruption in traffic flows, congestion on selected routes and terminals etc. are addressed in real time.

Despatch  by  road  is  sometimes  disrupted  due  to  local  law  and  order  problems  in  the subsidiaries  of  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL),  which  are  tackled  promptly  by  the  Colliery management as explained below at Para (b)&(c).

(b)&(c): Transportation  of  coal  from  collieries/sidings  is  the  responsibility  of  consumers' carriers/Railways. In certain fields like Talcher Area of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL) and  Magadh  Amrapali  of  Central  Coalfield  Limited  (CCL)  movement  of  coal  by  road  is frequently affected due to local law and order problems. As and when local law and order issues arise, the colliery management as well as the subsidiary companies take up the matter with the local administration and also make efforts to persuade the local population to refrain from such activities to ensure that no hindrance is made in transportation of coal.

(d)  : Transportation  arrangement  to  be  made  by  consumers  for  increased  use  of  conveyor belts/overhead  ropeways  is  stressed.  During  a  meeting  on  25.01.2018  in  the  Ministry  of Power, the use of captive mode of transport like Conveyor Belts, Merry-Go-Round (MGR) for  movement of coal was stressed upon and it was decided that the Power plants situated within 20 kms from pithead shall construct elevated closed belt conveyors within 2 years, that power plants located within 40 kms from pithead shall construct MGR within 3 years and power plants located within 40 kms and upto 100 kms may also consider the option of MGR based on financial viability.