INCREASE IN COAL PRODUCTION DURING TENTH PLAN

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RAJYA SABHA

To improve the production of coal to meet the future requirement of power plants and industrial units during Tenth Plan, following strategies has been formulated:

1. To open new mines and increase efficiency and productivity in the existing mines by modernisation, application of new technologies and to ensure timely availability of input and infra-structural facilities.
2. To take steps to remove the bottlenecks in land acquisition and forest land clearance for speedier implementation of coal projects.
3. To take steps to securitise the outstanding coal sale dues of coal Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) against defaulting SEBs.
4. To take steps in co-ordination with the Railways to remove the transportation bottlenecks in coalfield areas having potential for enhanced production.
5. To reduce the production cost of coal by resorting to various measures viz. rationalisation of manpower, improvement in capacity utilisation, removal of bottlenecks in timely completion of coal projects, judicious planning, economy in expenditure, and maintaining good industrial relations.
6. To take steps to improve the quality of coal through selective mining and beneficiation.
7. To supplement the resources required for investment in new projects and infuse modern technology and management systems and practices by entering into joint venture for development of green field project.

To integrate environmental & social mitigation measures with mine development plans for increasing the productivity following steps are being taken:

1. Rationalization of manpower deployment;
2. Introduction of suitable mechanization depending on the geo-mining conditions;
3. Optimization of district, re-organization of layout;
4. Optimization of utilization of inputs;
5. Improvement of working conditions through better ventilation etc. and
6. Provision of welfare and health care of coal worker.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Coal, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.