Lok Sabha Question No. 684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Supply of Coal to Power Plants
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Rattan Lal Kataria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.684 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## Supply of Coal to Power Plants

## 684. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  run  special  trains  for  supply  of  coal  to power  plants  in  the  beginning  of  the  current  year  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  chalked  out  any  special  policy  to  insure uninterrupted supply of coal in various states that are likely to be affected by flood during the coming rainy season and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  living standard of workers engaged in coal mines;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  working  on  providing  clean  drinking  water under Jal Jeevan Mission to people living nearby coal mines; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): As per information received from Ministry of Railways informed that the transportation  of  coal  by  Railways  is  through  open  wagons.  During  first quarter of 2022-23, Indian Railways has transported average 434 rakes per day (Domestic + Imported) to power sector which is about 31% more than the corresponding period of the last year.

(b): To  address  the  issues  of  coal  supplies  to  power  sector,  an  InterMinisterial  Sub  Group  comprising  of  representatives  from  Ministries  of Power,  Ministry  of  Coal,  Ministry  of  Railways,  CEA,  CIL  and  SCCL  meet regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to thermal  power  plants  as  well  as  for  meeting  any  contingent  situations relating to Power Sector including to alleviate critical coal stock position in power plants. In addition to this, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted comprising of Chairman, Railway Board, Secretary, Ministry  of  Coal,  Secretary,  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change and Secretary, Ministry of Power to monitor augmentation of coal supply  and  power  generation  capacity.  Secretary,  Ministry  of  New  and Renewable Energy and Chairperson, CEA are co-opted as Special Invitees as and when required by the IMC.  Coal dispatch from the captive coal blocks is also being monitored regularly.

Coal  India  Limited,  the  largest  supplier  of  coal  in  the  country,   has dispatched  152.49  MT  of  coal  to  Power  Sector  in  the  first  quarter  of  the current  fiscal  surpassing  all  the  previous  highs  of  the  same  period  and achieving  a  growth  of  19%  over  last  year  same  period.  CIL  has  already started  building  stock  at  its  railway  sidings  along  with  Good  shed  and private Washery sidings & ports (CIL sidings: 1.82 MT, Good Shed: 1.45 MT, Pvt.  Washery:  0.95  MT   &  Port:  1.39  MT,  Total:  5.61  MT)  to  facilitate adequate supply for power sector. As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA), coal stock at the power plants has improved from the level of 25.6 MT as on 31.03.2022 to 28.34 MT on 14.07.2022.

(c): In order to improve the living standard of the Coal Miners, Coal India Limited/Singareni Collieries Company Limited are paying utmost attention towards welfare amenities/facilities (Statutory &  Non-statutory) to all employees  including  contractual  workers  working  in  Coal  Mines.  The amenities/facilities  is  being  provided  in  Coal  Mines  areas  are  Housing, Education, Medical, clean water, Sports & Recreational, Banking and post offices, Co-operative stores and credit societies, Child care leave for female employees.

Coal India Limited/Singareni Collieries Company Limited are also maintaining various statutory  welfare  facilities  for  the  coal  mines  such  as Canteen, Rest Shelters etc.  in  accordance  with  the  provision  of  the  Mines Act 1952 and Rules and Regulations framed there-under,

(d)  &  (e): Since  August,  2019,  Government  of  India,  in  partnership  with States,  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  to  make  provision  of potable tap water supply to every rural household of the country, including those near coal mines, by 2024. The total estimated outlay of the mission is Rs. 3.60 lakh Crore.

At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission, out of 18.93 Crore rural households, 3.23 Crore (17%) households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, more than 6.56 Crore (34%) rural households have been provided with tap water connections in last thirty-five months. Thus, as of date, out of 19.20 Crore rural households in the country, 9.79 Crore (51%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

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