Coal policy to be tabled in a fortnight

Kolkata, Apr 20 (UNI) The report on the proposed coal distribution policy will be presented to the Ministry of Coal within the next fortnight, Coal Secretary H C Gupta said here today.

Speaking on the sidelines of a 'National Workshop on Safety Leadership and Capacity Building on Safety in Coal Mines' organised by CIL, Mr Guta said the report mainly focusses on coal distribition aspects.

Under the policy, the ministry wants to bring sectors, where the government or a statutory body determines prices, under the framework of the regulated sector. Such sectors are likely to meet 90 per cent of their coal requirements through fuel supply agreements (FSAs) at notified prices. The remaining 10 per cdent is likely to be met through e-marketing and imports.

The regulated sectors will include National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and central power utilities. Fertiliser units, the prices of which are controlled by a regulatory authority and the defence sector, are also likely to fall in this category.

This policy will be necessary, as in the 11th five year plan the production level will be increased manifold as the CIL set an ambitious target to reach a production of 75 MT from 46 MT by the end of the plan period.

At the end of the 11th plan period the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the Coal Industry would be 9 per cent which was 5 to 6 per cent earlier.

"We have also planned to reach the production level to around two billion tonnes by 2040. In order to achieve the goal the new plicy would play an important role and the safety aspect will be of prime importance," he said.

Speaking on the safety issue, he said to increase the production safety is one of the main challencges that the Coal Industry has to face.

"We are concerned about safety aspects in both open cast and underground production," he said. The coal industry should make a mix of technology and follow the regulatory measures as directed by the DGMC.

Speaking on the occasion CIL Chairman Partho Sarathi Bhattacharyya said Coal India is focussing on safety aspect and giving priority to staff accidents in the coal mines.

Around 104 people died in 2006 due to mining accident which was 74 in 2005.

UNI