Lok Sabha Question No. 185 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Operationalization of Mines by Project Monitoring Unit
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Kripanath Mallah, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO - *185

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## OPERATIONALIZATION OF MINES BY PROJECT MONITORING UNIT

*185. SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the State-wise details of the 500 mineral and coal mines auctioned and the specific measures  implemented  by  the  Government  through  the  newly  established  Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) to expedite the operationalization of these mineral and coal mines;

(b)  the  manner  in  which  PMU  is  likely  to  enhance  coordination  between  various Ministries and State authorities to facilitate faster mine operations; and

(c) the role of the PMU in monitoring compliance with statutory clearances required for mining operations?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

THE  STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  185  REGARDING  'OPERATIONALIZATION  OF  MINES  BY PROJECT MONITORING UNIT' ASKED BY SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB AND SHRI KRIPANATH  MALLAH,  MEMBER  OF  PARLIAMENT  FOR  REPLY  ON  12TH MARCH 2025.

(a)  to  (c):  So  far,  457  non  coal  mineral  blocks  and  131  coal  blocks  have  been successfully  auctioned  across  various  States.  State-wise  details  of  the  blocks  are given at Annexure - I.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) is established to accelerate the operationalization  of  auctioned  blocks  by  facilitating  the  approval  process  for  key statutory clearances. The PMU plays a crucial role in improving coordination between various Ministries, State authorities and preferred bidders of the auctioned blocks for streamlining approvals and obtaining the clearances and approvals in a time bound manner.

Further,  the  PMU  ensure  compliance  with  regulatory  requirements  by  maintaining records of pending approvals, identifying key issues faced by the bidders in seeking approvals  under  the  existing  practice  and  recommend  reforms  to  the  approval process.

*****

ANNEXURE I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  185  REGARDING  'OPERATIONALIZATION  OF  MINES  BY  PROJECT MONITORING UNIT'. State Wise Auction Summary (Non Coal Blocks)

| S. No.      | States            | Mineral Blocks auctioned by State Govt.   | Critical Mineral Blocks auctioned by the Central Govt.   |   Total Mineral Blocks auctioned |
|-------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1           | Andhra Pradesh    | 25                                        | 1                                                        |                               26 |
| 2           | Arunachal Pradesh | -                                         | 4                                                        |                                4 |
| 3           | Assam             | 3                                         | -                                                        |                                3 |
| 4           | Bihar             | 1                                         | 3                                                        |                                4 |
| 5           | Chhattisgarh      | 37                                        | 1                                                        |                               38 |
| 6           | Gujarat           | 25                                        | -                                                        |                               25 |
| 7           | Goa               | 12                                        | -                                                        |                               12 |
| 8           | Jharkhand         | 10                                        | 1                                                        |                               11 |
| 9           | Karnataka         | 45                                        | 2                                                        |                               47 |
| 10          | Madhya Pradesh    | 90                                        | 3                                                        |                               93 |
| 11          | Maharashtra       | 40                                        | 1                                                        |                               41 |
| 12          | Odisha            | 48                                        | 3                                                        |                               51 |
| 13          | Rajasthan         | 88                                        | -                                                        |                               88 |
| 14          | Tamil Nadu        | -                                         | 2                                                        |                                2 |
| 15          | Telangana         | 2                                         | -                                                        |                                2 |
| 16          | Uttar Pradesh     | 7                                         | 3                                                        |                               10 |
| Grand Total | Grand Total       | 433                                       | 24                                                       |                              457 |

State Wise Summary (Coal blocks)

| S. No.   | States            |   Total Auctioned Coal Blocks |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------------------|
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh |                             1 |
| 2        | Assam             |                             2 |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh      |                            19 |
| 4        | Jharkhand         |                            34 |
| 5        | Madhya Pradesh    |                            31 |
| 6        | Maharashtra       |                            13 |
| 7        | Odisha            |                            25 |
| 8        | West Bengal       |                             6 |
|          | Grand Total       |                           131 |