Lok Sabha Question No. 1685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: Coal Royalty
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Pramila Bisoyi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1685 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2022

## Coal Royalty

## 1685 SHRIMATI PRAMILA BISOYI:

Will the Minister of COAL  be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is considering enhancement of royalty on coal and if so, the time by which the decision on such enhancement is expected to be taken;

(b)  whether there has been a delay in back filling through sand stowing for mine safety to prevent  soil  subsidence  over  the  non-working  underground  coal  mines  of  Handidhua  and Deulbera in Talcher coalfields area by MCL;

(c) if so, the time by which the balance back filling work will be completed;

- (c)  whether there  any detailed plan formulated to complete the back filling in these Under Ground Mines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)        There is no proposal with the Government for enhancement of Royalty on Coal.
- (b)      Back filling is required to prevent surface subsidence in case of complete extraction / depillaring of underground panels. The areas of Talcher under ground mines which have been depillared, have already been stowed and the areas where sand stowing has not been done is standing on pillars so, there is very remote chance of caving causing surface subsidence.

However, because the surface over those mines particularly Deulbera and Handidhua are thickly populated and mines are abandoned, Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) has identified areas having low covers for stabilization by sand stowing even though they are standing on pillars

(c)  &  (d)           As  the  areas  are  not  physically  approachable  and  mines  are  sealed,  hydro pneumatic  sand  stowing  is  being  done  through  boreholes  drilled  from  surface  which  is  in itself a slow process.

ln  Handidhua Colliery  : 75.18% of total assessed quantity in the identified areas has been completed. Out of the remaining, 18.37 % is in hindrance area and 6.45 % is in hindrance free area where stowing is being done. Tentative time of completion at hindrance free area @ 12,200 m3/year = 3.5 years.

ln  Deulbera  Colliery  :  37.71%  of  total  assessed  quantity  in  the  identified  areas  has  been completed.  Out  of  the  remaining  quantity,  30.55%  is  in  hindrance  area  and  31.73%  in hindrance free area where stowing is being done. Tentative time of completion at Hindrance free area @ 18,000 m3/year = 6.9 Years

(e)           Mahanadi  Coalfields  Limited  (MCL)  has  engaged  different  scientific  agencies  for assessing  the  stability  and  efficacy  of  the  stability  of  surface  above  stowed  out  identified working as mentioned below:

| Year              | Name of the scientific agency                                                                                        | Name of the colliery where scientific study done   | Outcome of study                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| From 2010 to 2013 | National Geographical Research Institute(NGRI) a sister unit of Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research(CIMFR) | Deulbera                                           | Efficacy of sand stowing in voids of working is good                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 2019              | Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Kharagpur                                                                       | Handidhua                                          | 1. Out of the total identified areas in Handidhua, some of the areas which fall within the HFL of the Nallah, both in bottom& top section and below Handidhua Village (Bottom section) have been completely stabilized, while the rest of the areas were later on sub- divided into six zones (namely Zone- A, B, C, D, E & F) based on their location in both the sections. 2. IIT, Kharagpur in the year 2019 |

|      |                                                      |                                                                                            | conducted a scientific study for assessing the long term stability of underground workings in the zones - C,D,E & F and submitted the report in which it stated that "No Risk to the surface structure from the said underground workings and no further protective measures for stabilization need to be undertaken in few identified areas ." 3. This report has already been submitted in March 2021 to DGMSs' Office for acceptance.             |
|------|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019 | Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research(CIMFR) | Assessing the long term stability of all underground workings of all mines of Talcher Area | This study is in 3 parts. Study of two part is completed and study of 3rd part is in progress. According to Part-I study report, all workings of Nandira and Talcher mines are declared stable. Other than in identified workings of Deulbera and Handidhua are also declared stable. Further action will be taken accordingly when the report is submitted. Efficacy of the stabilization will be certified by CIMFR during the 3rd stage of study. |

The major constraints being faced by MCL are:

(i) Most of the surface lands are tenancy lands and the tenants obstruct in renting their land for drilling/ sand stowing / sand transportation to site.

(ii) Even the Govt. lands are encroached by locals and it becomes very difficult to get those vacated.

(iii) Transportation hours of sand from river to stowing site are allowed from 10 PM to 5 AM only.

Out of 5,85,000 m3 of sand stowing required for Handidhua 4,39,779 m3 has been stowed, out of which 1,07,499 m3 is in hindrance area and 37,722 m3 is balance in hindrance free area.

Similarly for Deulbera mine, out of 3,30,400 m3 of sand stowing 1,24,597.471 m3 sand has been stowed, out of which 1,00,960 m3 is in hindrance area and 1,04,843 m3 is in hindrance free area till 15th  July-2022.

However, with the help of state administration, MCL has recorded highest stowing rate since last 5 years as tabulated below and will increase further.

## (Data in Cu.m.)

| Stowing at   |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 till 15 th July |
|--------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------------------|
| Handidhua    |       349 |      2650 |       850 |      1004 |      3807 |                      1214 |
| Deulbera     |       786 |      4002 |      6104 |      2014 |      7144 |                      2489 |
| Total        |      1135 |      6652 |      6954 |      3018 |     10951 |                      3703 |

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