Chhattisgarh is among two other States mainly Jharkhand and Odisha which have put up its major mineral blocks on e-auction mode, officials informed.
Notably, the Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar has convened a meeting of all In-charge ministers of Mining Departments of various State governments in Goa on May 27 this year for identification of major mineral blocks and their auction where preparedness will be discussed in the meeting, they informed.
Chhattisgarh will emerge as a model State in developing areas related to minerals, Chief Minister Raman Singh had started while inaugurating the Regional Office of Indian Mines Bureau (IMB) at Auditor General’s office complex here last month.
“Chhattisgarh is one of the leading states to implement ‘Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act’. We have successfully performed auction of two limestone and one gold mine ” he said.
Chhattisgarh is among the front-line states forming District Mineral Development Fund. The opening of Indian Mines Bureau Office will promote scientific extraction of minerals under the supervision of experts, he had stated.
He had further stated that now small leaseholders of minor minerals will not have to run to Nagpur to get their work done.
Meanwhile, it may be recalled that Union Ministry of Coal has written to all the successful bidders and allottees of coal mines in Chhattisgarh to pay up the second and third installment of the upfront amount as per the Coal Mines and Production Agreement (CMPDA). A copy of the letter had also been forwarded to the Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and Accountant General for necessary action, officials informed.
Through sustained programme of investment and greater thrust on application of modern technologies, it has been possible to raise the production of coal from a level of about 70 million tonnes at the time of nationalization of coal mines in early 1970's to 612.44 million tonnes (All India) in 2014-15, officials informed.
Notably, the Coal India limited (CIl) and its subsidiaries accounted for 494.23 million tonnes during 2014-15 as against a production of 462.41 million tonnes in 2013-14 showing a growth of 6.9%.
CIl has recorded offtake of coal from its largest subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) at 124.34 million tonnes between April 2015 to February 2016.
This was against the target of 123.89 million tonnes (MT) - a growth of 11.1 per cent.
Notably, SECl is targetting total coal production of 250 million tonnes (MT) from its underground and open cast mines by 2019-20, officials stated.
Notably, SECl recorded coal production (provisional) of 12.10 million tonnes (MT) against target of 11.70 MT as on February 2016, Coal India ltd (CIl) informed the Bombay Stock Exchange in its filing.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during December 2015 was Rs 20096 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs 9132 crore (43%), the Central government has informed.
Notably, the Coal India ltd is targetting production of 1 billion tonnes of coal by 2020. Wagon availability will be a key factor for achieving this target by Coal India ltd, officials stated.
By signing of the MoU, the Railways and Coal India ltd will be entering into a strategic partnership which would ensure adequate wagon availability for meeting the transportation needs of coal produced by Coal India ltd.