NEW COAL SALES POLICY
Under the new coal
sales policy for non-core sector, the existing linkages other
than snapped and verified and found genuine cases can be restricted
only to the present level of Maximum Permissible Quantity (MPQ).
However, additional quantities of coal subject to availability
can be offered based on a more even handed system of Fuel Supply
Agreements (FSAs). Grant of fresh linkage and restoration of linkage
to non-core sector has been discontinued. There is also no provision/scope
either for Coal India Limited (CIL) or Coal companies to issue
fresh linkage, revival/restoration of snapped/lapsed linkages
or to effect any change in the linkage already issued for the
consumers in the non-core sector. Except the MPQ quantity now
being made available to linked consumers, there will be no other
loose linkages. Consumers wanting coal in addition to their MPQ,
consumers wanting coal beyond the old linkages and new consumers
wanting coal are all to be treated alike and are to be allowed
to enter into FSAs with the coal companies.
Coal is offered
for sale under Open Sales Schemes (OSS) of different grades falling
non-coking coal category varying from ‘B’ to ‘F’ whenever surplus
availability exists after meeting the demand of core sector and
regular non-core sector consumers. Booking is accepted on first-come-first-served-basis
as provided in the OSS with a stipulation for pro-rata allocation
on the opening day of booking whenever booking is more than the
offered quantity, with the due approval of competent authority
for smooth operation and to avoid any law and order problem. In
case booking on the first day is less than the offered quantity,
booking is accepted subsequently on first-come-first-served-basis.
This information
was given by the Minister of Coal, Shri Kariya Munda, in a written
reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
