Lok Sabha Question No. 95 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Coal Blocks
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 95

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2022

## COAL BLOCKS

## 95.  SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the recommendations of inter-ministerial task force for rationalization of existing coal blocks and coal supply have been implemented and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether sufficient coal blocks have been explored in Rajasthan during the survey, if so, the area-wise and quantity-wise details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to carry out geological surveys to explore coal blocks in Churu and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Rationalization of coal linkages is a policy initiative of Ministry of Coal in order to reduce the distance in transportation of coal from the coal mines to the consumer. Coal linkage rationalization in power sector has resulted in decrease in transportation cost from the mines to the power plants leading to more efficient coal base power generation. The exercise helps in reducing the load on the transportation infrastructure, easing the evacuation constraints as well as reduction in landed cost of coal.

The linkage rationalization for State/Central PSUs was implemented initially, based on the recommendation  of  Inter-Ministerial  Task  Force  (IMTF)  which  was  constituted  in  June, 2014.  Further IMTF was constituted in July, 2017 to rationalize the linkages of the Independent Power  Producers  (IPPs).   The  methodology  for  rationalization  of  coal  for  IPPs/Private  sector plants was also issued on 15.05.2018.  Another IMTF was constituted in October, 2018 to examine the possibility of further rationalization of coal linkages, including Swapping of imported coal being transported to hinterland with domestic coal transported near coastal areas. The methodology was accepted by the Government and issued on 05.06.2020, which covers the Power as well as Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) and coal swapping with imported coal has also been permitted.

So  far,  total  98.16  Million  Tonnes  of  coal  has  been  rationalized  with  annual  potential saving of Rs. 6931.86 crore.

(b) to (d):No coal deposit has been reported yet in the Rajasthan State. However, lignite is found in Rajasthan. The details of the lignite resources in the state of Rajasthan as per the Coal/Lignite inventory of India published by GSI as on 01.04.2022 are furnished below-

## (Resources in million tonne)

| District           |   Measured (331) |   Indicated (332) |   Inferred (333) |   Total |
|--------------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|---------|
| Bikaner            |           560.3  |            230.33 |           309.19 | 1099.82 |
| Barmer             |           495.23 |           2509.46 |          1555    | 4559.69 |
| Jaisalmer &Bikaner |             0    |              0    |            11.47 |   11.47 |
| Jaisalmer &Barmer  |             0    |              0    |            13.8  |   13.8  |
| Jaisalmer          |             0    |              0    |            70.44 |   70.44 |
| Jalore             |             0    |              0    |            76.08 |   76.08 |
| Nagaur             |           113    |            289.49 |           204.74 |  607.23 |
| Nagaur &Pali       |             0    |              0.5  |            18.69 |   19.19 |
| Total              |          1168.53 |           3029.78 |          2259.41 | 6457.72 |