Centre issues show cause notice to companies for failing to achieve targeted coal production
New Delhi, June 3 (Mayank Nigam) The Centre on Friday said that it has served show cause notice to 16 companies for failing to achieve targeted coal production. ‘Show cause notices are issued from time to time to the companies which are not adhering to the timelines prescribed in their agreements for timely operationalisation of coal blocks or for non-achievement of targeted coal production. A scrutiny committee has been constituted by the ministry to consider the show cause notices and replies received from allocattees on case to case basis and recommend penalty in cases the delays are attributable to the allocatees,’ a statement from the Ministry of Coal said.
The Scrutiny Committee, in its 17th meeting held on recently, reviewed cases of 24 coal mines – and recommended proportionate appropriation of Performance Security in four cases– Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Limited (Rajbar E&D), Topworth Urja & Metals Ltd. (Marki Mangli-I), Ultratech Cements Ltd (Bicharpur) and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (Talaipalli) due to delay on the part of allocatees. Recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee have been accepted by the Government and appropriation orders are being issued, the statement said. The companies which were served notices were Hindalco Industries Limited National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (3 blocks), JSW Steel Limited, Trimula Industries Limited, Damodar valley corporation, West Bengal Power Development Corporation, Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd, B S Ispat Limited, Indrajit Power Private Ltd, Birla Corp. Ltd (2 blocks), Sunflag Iron and Steel Company Limited, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (2 blocks), Power plus Traders Pvt. Ltd, Vedanta Limited (3 blocks), National Aluminium Company Limited and EMIL Mines and Mineral Resources Limited.
In addition to the regular follow up, review meetings are also being held by Ministry of coal with the blocks allocatees and the respective State / Central agencies like MoEF&CC, State Mining Departments, State Revenue Departments, State Forest Departments, etc. for early operationalization of the blocks and to enhance the production from operational blocks. A Project Management Unit has also been appointed by the Ministry for handholding of allottees in obtaining the statutory clearances for early operationalization of coal blocks. ‘The Ministry of Coal has allocated coal blocks for captive end use and sale of coal or commercial mining. 85.32 Million Tonnes of coal has been produced in FY-2021-22 from the 47 operational coal blocks. As against the scheduled production of 203.67 Million Tonnes for the FY 2022-23, it is expected that a total 58 coal blocks would become operational with an expected production of around 138.28 Million Tonnes,’ the statement added.