Clearance to Coal Mining Projects to be Expedited 

Government has setup Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) to expedite decision making process for clearance of projects in the infrastructure sector. Soon after the meeting of CCI held on 20.02.2013, MoEF has accorded Environmental Clearances (EC) for 14 projects and Stage – I Forestry Clearances (FC) for 04 projects of Coal India Limited (CIL). This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal, Shri Pratik PrakashBapu Patil in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. 

State Advised to Facilitate Clearances for Coal Blocks 

The coal bearing State Governments have been advised to facilitate and expedite in obtaining the various clearances, grant of mining leases and land acquisition by the coal blocks allocattees so that coal production can be increased. 

He said that a total of 218 coal blocks with geological reserves of about 50 billion tonnes have been allocated to eligible public and private companies, out of which 178 coal blocks stand allocated as on date after de-allocation/reallocation and withdrawal of de-allocations made.  Out of the above, 35 coal blocks have come into production.

Development of coal blocks involves a gestation period of 3 to 7 years for reaching the production stage and another two to three years for reaching the optimal production capacity.  As per the guidelines, coal production from a captive coal block should commence within 36 months (42 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of open cast mines and in 48 months (54 months in case the area falls in forest land) in case of underground mine, from the date of allocation.  If a coal block is not explored, additional two years are allowed for detailed exploration and three months for preparation of geological report. 

Details of
de-allocated coal blocks as on date