The steps taken to bring transparency in coal production and distribution are as under:

1. Major Information Technology (IT) initiatives have been taken up by Coal India Limited (CIL) / Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and reporting of coal production is done through the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems.
2. CIL/SCCL follow the policy and guidelines issued by Ministry of Coal to distribute coal in a transparent manner. The current policies in place are New Coal Distribution policy (NCDP), Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI), Linkage auction policy for Non Regulated Sector (NRS), Bridge Linkage Policy, Single Window Mode Agnostic Auctions, Linkage rationalization etc., and these policies are modified as and when required. The coal is supplied to the consumer as per the Fuel Supply Agreement between coal companies and the consumers.

To promote environmental sustainability in coal mines in the country, various sustainable & environment friendly initiatives have been taken such as plantation/ bio-reclamation, mine water utilization for community use, development of eco-parks and adoption of energy efficiency measures.

Further, the Coal Block Development and Production Agreement for commercial mining executed between Successful Bidder and Nominated Authority mandates that the Successful Bidder shall implement mechanised coal extraction, transport and evacuation in the coal mine, in line with modern and prevalent technologies. Accordingly, the Successful Bidder shall strive to minimise the carbon footprints from operations at the coal mine, undertake steps to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainability, in accordance with Good Industry Practice.

The following activities are being taken by the coal companies to reduce carbon emissions from coal mines:

1. Creation of carbon sink through plantations.
2. Restoration of degraded land.
3. Adoption of clean coal technologies including extraction of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Coal Gasification.
4. Minimizing road transportation and enhancing mechanized coal loading and transportation including First Mile Connectivity projects.
5. Implementing Energy Efficiency measures
6. Undertaking Renewable energy projects including solar, wind, pumped storage projects, geo-thermal, etc.

The total number of captive / commercial private coal mines allocated by Ministry of Coal which has received Mine Opening Permission is 28, out of which 26 coal mines have started production.

Coal India Limited (CIL) / Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) provides the facility of medical treatment for self and dependent family members of its employees in hospitals / dispensaries of CIL / SCCL. Further, employees and their dependent family members are also referred to empaneled hospitals across the country, as per the requirement, for availing specialized facility of medical treatment. The contractors' workers engaged in establishments of CIL/Subsidiaries are also being extended indoor and OPD facility, as available in company's hospitals/dispensaries. The Not on Roll Employees of SCCL and their spouses are enrolled in Contributory Post Retirement Medicare Scheme on paying stipulated membership fees, wherein they can avail cash less treatment in empaneled hospitals. At present there is no health insurance scheme for coal mine workers of CIL / SCCL.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Shuhaib T