(a) whether the annual production of coal meets the annual demand of coal in the country;
(b) if not, the details thereof including the quantity of coal imported from other countries to meet the shortfall;
(c) whether some coalfields are prone to fires that destroy large quantities of coal every year;
(d) if so, the details thereof including the quantity of coal lost in such fires every year along with the financial loss;
(e) whether the Government is aware of the Master Plan for Control of Fire, Subsidence and Rehabilitation drawn up in 2003 which seeks to relocate population in fire prone areas and to mine coal in such areas on priority basis;
(f) if so, the steps taken by the Government to give effect to the Master Plan and to resolve this problem; and
(g) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to check the incidents of fires in future? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a)&(b): The actual demand for coal in the country exceeds the overall domestic production of coal. Accordingly, the gap between domestic production and supply is met through import of coal which was 168.44 Mte. in 2013-14 and 100.6 Mte. during April- September, 2014.
(c)&(d):Some of the coal seams are prone to fire. However, by adopting scientific mining methods & technologies and following the statutory regulations and guidelines stipulated by the Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS), mining of coal is possible without occurrence of fire in coal mines. CIL is adhering to statutory provisions and latest methods of mining & technologies applicable for coal mining.
However, at the time of nationalization, CIL inherited some areas with fire due to unscientific mining by the erstwhile private owners in the lease hold of Bharat Coking Coalfields Ltd. (BCCL). After nationalization of coal mines, many effective schemes were implemented by adopting best available technologies. This resulted in reduction of total surface area affected by fire to 8.9 sq. km at the time of preparation of Master Plan from earlier reported 17.32 sq. km. With the progressive implementation of Master Plan, as per the survey conducted with the State-of-the-Art Satellite based technology in August, 2013 by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, Dept. of Space, Hyderabad, the surface area of coal fires in Jharia Coalfield has further reduced to 2.18 sq. km. However, no precise data is available about the quantity of coal lost and corresponding financial loses.
(e)&(f): Government had approved the Master Plan for Jharia Coal Fields and Raniganj Coal Fields to deal with fire, Subsidence and Rehabilitation in August 2009 for an estimated expenditure of Rs. 9773.84 crore (Rs. 7112.11 crore for Jharia Coal Field in the lease hold of BCCL and Rs. 2661.73 crore for Raniganj Coalfield in the lease hold of ECL).
The scope of the proposal covers control of fire, rehabilitation of people from endangered areas and diversion of surface infrastructure wherever required with a time schedule of implementation of 12 years (including 2years for pre implementation activities) for BCCL and 10 years for ECL. Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority in the State of Jharkhand and Asansol Durgapur Development Authority in the state of West Bengal are the identified agencies to implement the Master Plan for Non-BCCL & Non-ECL population.
A High Powered Central Committee (HPCC), constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Coal) with representatives from concerned state governments and coal companies, monitors the progress of the Master Plan and so far ten review meetings were held by HPCC.
(g):Following steps have been takento check the incidents of fires.
1. All mining operations in CIL are done as per provisions of the Mines Act, 1952, the Mines Rules –1955, the Coal Mines Regulations-1957 and bye-laws framed there under.
2. Mines are operated as per approved Mining Plan prepared with scientific methods of mining and technologies.
3. Risk assessment based Safety Management Plans have been prepared for all mines of CIL where all hazards including that of mine fire are identified scientifically and appropriate control measures are recommended and implemented. |
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