The government on Monday said not a single washery of Coal India (CIL) could be commissioned during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period mainly due to delays in securing environmental clearances and non-availability of suitable land.
'Many new washeries have been planned and the process of setting up of these washeries had been started by Coal India Ltd. However, none could be commissioned .... mainly due to non-availability of suitable land and delay in environmental clearance process,' Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
Coal quality is enhanced by coal washing and the plant where coal washing is carried out is called coal washery.
The Minister, however, said as of now environmental clearances have been granted with regard to three washeries — two of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and one of Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
The Standing Committee on Coal and Steel had said in its report last year that 20 washeries—seven coking coal and 13 non-coking coal—with the capacity of 111.10 million tonnes were proposed to be set during the Eleventh Five Year Plan which ended in March 2012.Of these 20 washeries--involving an investment of Rs 2,500 crore--18 were to be under build-operate-maintain model and two under turn-key scheme.
In view of the delays in setting up of the washeries, the panel had desired that CIL prepare an action plan to expedite the work of commissioning of washeries.
The committee had also observed that the washeries were not set up despite the Ministry of Environment and Forests restricting the use of coal containing more 34 per cent ash content in power stations located 1,000 km away from pit heads.
'Many new washeries have been planned and the process of setting up of these washeries had been started by Coal India Ltd. However, none could be commissioned .... mainly due to non-availability of suitable land and delay in environmental clearance process,' Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
Coal quality is enhanced by coal washing and the plant where coal washing is carried out is called coal washery.
The Minister, however, said as of now environmental clearances have been granted with regard to three washeries — two of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and one of Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
The Standing Committee on Coal and Steel had said in its report last year that 20 washeries—seven coking coal and 13 non-coking coal—with the capacity of 111.10 million tonnes were proposed to be set during the Eleventh Five Year Plan which ended in March 2012.Of these 20 washeries--involving an investment of Rs 2,500 crore--18 were to be under build-operate-maintain model and two under turn-key scheme.
In view of the delays in setting up of the washeries, the panel had desired that CIL prepare an action plan to expedite the work of commissioning of washeries.
The committee had also observed that the washeries were not set up despite the Ministry of Environment and Forests restricting the use of coal containing more 34 per cent ash content in power stations located 1,000 km away from pit heads.