Lok Sabha Question No. 2652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Exploration of Coal Blocks
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Bastipati Nagaraju

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2652

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## Exploration of Coal Blocks

## 2652 . Shri Bastipati Nagaraju:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of new regional coal blocks that have been explored during each of the last three years by public and private companies, State-wise;
- (b)  the  total  quantity  of  coal  resources  added  from  these  explorations,  State-wise especially for Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) whether any new coal exploration programme are being done in Andhra Pradesh;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a):   Regional Coal and Lignite block exploration are done by Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) and Private companies. Details are as under:

Details of number of new regional coal and lignite blocks explored by GSI:

| State          | No. of Blocks during 2021-22   | No. of Blocks during 2022-23   | No. of Blocks during 2023-24   |
|----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh |                                |                                |                                |
| Assam          |                                |                                |                                |
| Chhattisgarh   | 2                              | 2                              | 1                              |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1                              | 2                              | 3                              |
| Nagaland       |                                | 1                              |                                |
| Odisha         | 1                              | 2                              | 2                              |
| Jharkhand      |                                |                                |                                |
| West Bengal    |                                | 1                              | 1                              |
| Maharashtra    |                                | 1                              |                                |
| Bihar          | 1                              | 1                              | 1                              |
| Meghalaya      |                                |                                |                                |
| Telangana      | 1                              |                                | 1                              |
| Tamil nadu     | 1                              | 1                              | 1                              |
| Grand Total    | 7                              | 11                             | 10                             |

Details of the number of new regional coal and Lignite blocks explored by CMPDI

| State          | No. of Blocks during 2021-22   | No. of Blocks during 2022-23   | No. of Blocks during 2023-24   |
|----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh |                                |                                |                                |
| Assam          | 1                              |                                | 3                              |
| Chhattisgarh   | 9                              | 7                              | 12                             |
| Madhya Pradesh | 6                              | 5                              | 7                              |
| Nagaland       | 2                              | 2                              | 3                              |
| Odisha         | 3                              | 2                              |                                |
| Jharkhand      |                                | 2                              | 7                              |
| West Bengal    |                                | 1                              |                                |
| Maharashtra    | 2                              |                                | 5                              |
| Bihar          | 1                              | 1                              | 1                              |
| Meghalaya      |                                |                                | 1                              |
| Telangana      |                                |                                | 1                              |
| Tamilnadu      |                                |                                | 2                              |
| Rajasthan      |                                | 3                              |                                |
| Grand Total    | 24                             | 23                             | 42                             |

- (b):  During  the  exploration  activities  from  2021-22,  2022-23  and  2023-24,  the  total quantity of coal/lignite resources added is given below:
- (c)  to  (e):  Presently,  there  is  no  new  coal  exploration  programs  being  carried  out  by  the CMPDI /GSI in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The regional exploration and in some part, detailed  exploration  has  already  been  taken  in  the known  prognosticated  area.  The

| State          | Resource (in Million Tonne)   | Resource (in Million Tonne)   | Resource (in Million Tonne)   |
|----------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|                | Inferred                      | Reconnaissance                | Total resource                |
| Coal           |                               |                               |                               |
| Odisha         | 11179.98                      | 3117.41                       | 14297.39                      |
| Chhattisgarh   | 5648.21                       | 2247.60                       | 7895.80                       |
| Madhya Pradesh | 463.88                        | 815.03                        | 1278.91                       |
| Bihar          | -                             | 1584.14                       | 1,584.14                      |
| Telangana      | 19.10                         | -                             | 19.10                         |
| West Bengal    | 458.59                        | -                             | 458.59                        |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1618.70                       | 606.86                        | 2225.56                       |
| Jharkhand      | 1946.46                       | 35.25                         | 1981.71                       |
| Nagaland       | 85.52                         | 31.89                         | 117.41                        |
| Total Coal     | 21420.44                      | 8438.18                       | 29858.61                      |
| Lignite        |                               |                               |                               |
| Tamil Nadu     | -                             | 1045.76                       | 1045.76                       |

exploration may be taken further in the future, if the prognosticated area is modified in due course of exploration.

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