Lok Sabha Question No. 3727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Coal Extraction in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## Coal Extraction in Chhattisgarh

## 3727. Shri Dushyant Singh:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)  the  primary  challenges  and  concerns  associated  with  the  extraction  of  coal  from Chhattisgarh for power plants in Rajasthan despite receiving necessary approval from both State and Union Government;

(b) the specific measures being implemented to address environmental and logistical issues related to the extraction, washing and transportation of coal from Chhattisgarh to Rajasthan along with the details for the agencies involved in these processes;

(c) the manner in which the Government ensures that the coal extraction process adheres to environmental  regulations  and  sustainable  practices  along  with  the  steps  being  taken  to mitigate any negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems;

(d) the current status of coal supply for electricity generation in Rajasthan along with the details of power plants which are receiving coal including quantity thereof; and

(e)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  addressing  potential  supply  disruptions  or shortages?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Parsa  East  &  Kanta  Basan  coal  block  and  Parsa  coal  block  in  Chhattisgarh  state allocated to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL) for the supply of coal to the power plants in Rajasthan, have got all the clearances. However, the challenges are relating to the handing over of the forest land.

(b): Entire coal dispatch is through First Mile Connectivity incorporating mechanized coal conveyor belt, rapid loading system and railway rake dispatch system. In order to facilitate enhanced supply of rakes to power sector, Railways are regularly including wagons as per demand to facilitate evacuation of coal. Further, the environmental conservation measures include Compensatory Afforestation (CA) in respect of forest land acquired for coal mining. In addition, aggressive afforestation using different methods like Miyawaki plantation, Sal Regeneration & conservation of Topsoil etc., is being done at the location/area where coal

has been extracted. Different agencies involved in coal extraction and transportation are RRVUNL,  Mine  Development  Operator  (MDO),  Local  Service  Providers,  and  Local Women Self Help Group & Project Affected Persons.

(c): The manner in which the Government ensures that the coal extraction process adheres to environmental regulations and sustainable practices being taken to mitigate any negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems, are as under:

(i)   For opening new mine, prior Environmental Clearance (EC) is secured from Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under Environment (Protection) Act & Rules, 1986 and EIA Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments. The mines are operated complying with the EC conditions thereby ensuring environment sustainability.

(ii)   In  compliance  of  the  Van  (Sanrakshan  evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam,  1980,  prior Forestry Clearance is also secured from MoEF&CC, in case of projects involving forest land.

(iii)   In case of Expansion Projects (for enhancement in production capacity and / or land area)  prior  Environmental  Clearance  is  secured  from  MoEF&CC  under  Environment (Protection) Act & Rules, 1986 and EIA Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments.

(iv)   After receipt of EC, Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) are also  secured  from  respective  State  Pollution  Control  Boards  under  Air  (Prevention  & Control of Pollution) Act,1981 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,1974.

(v)   During implementation of the project, Environmental Compliance   Report against the stipulated EC conditions are submitted to MoEF&CC.

(vi)   In compliance of the EC/CTE/CTO conditions, regular environmental monitoring with respect to ambient air quality, effluent quality, noise level monitoring and ground water (both  levels  and  quality)  are  monitored  and  reports  are  submitted  to  MoEF&CC, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

(vii)   In  compliance  of  the  statute,  Annual  Environmental  (Audit)  Statement  for  the preceding financial year for each operating mine is submitted to respective SPCB on or before 30th September every year.

(viii)  In compliance of EC and Consent conditions, various pollution control measures and environment  sustainability  measures  are  undertaken  which  are  regularly  monitored  and continuously strengthened.

(ix)    All  required environmental issues related compliances are being strictly adhered to along with focussed CSR activities taken up in the surrounding communities.

(x)   Quarterly inspections of MoEF&CC officials & State Forest Dept. & State Pollution Control Board are being conducted at the mining site & evaluation of quarterly and half yearly returns are being submitted to different statutory agencies.

(d): The current status of coal supply for electricity generation in Rajasthan along with the details  of  domestic  coal  based  (DCB)  power  plants  which  are  receiving  coal  including quantity thereof, during 2024-25 (Apr-Oct) is as under:

(Figures in Thousand Tonnes)

| S. No.   | Power Plants located in Rajasthan   |   Capacity (MW) |   Domestic Receipt |   Imported Receipt |   Total Receipt |   Total Consumption |
|----------|-------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
| 1        | CHHABRA-I PH-1 TPP                  |             500 |                971 |                  0 |             971 |                1337 |
| 2        | CHHABRA-I PH-2 TPP                  |             500 |               1789 |                  0 |            1789 |                1525 |
| 3        | CHHABRA-II TPP                      |            1320 |               2627 |                  0 |            2627 |                2662 |
| 4        | KALISINDH TPS                       |            1200 |               2632 |                  0 |            2632 |                2591 |
| 5        | KOTA TPS                            |            1240 |               4046 |                  0 |            4046 |                3931 |
| 6        | SURATGARH TPS                       |            1500 |               3522 |                  0 |            3522 |                3493 |
| 7        | SURATGARH STPS                      |            1320 |               2299 |                  0 |            2299 |                2325 |
| 8        | ADANI POWER LIMITED KAWAI TPP       |            1320 |               2312 |                994 |            3306 |                3088 |
|          | TOTAL                               |            8900 |              20196 |                994 |           21190 |               20953 |

During  2024-25  (Apr-Oct),  the  receipt  was  greater  than  consumption  in  the  above plants. Further,  as  on  11.12.2024,  the  coal  stock  available  at  the  DCB  plants  located  in Rajasthan was 15.5 Lakh Tonnes (LT), sufficient to run these plants for an average of about 13 days at 85% PLF.

(e):  Supply of coal to the power plants including the power plants located in Rajasthan is a continuous process. Coal supply is continuously monitored by the coal companies and also by an Inter-Ministerial Sub Group comprising of representatives from Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), which meet regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to Thermal Power Plants.

Besides,  an  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  has  also  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.

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