Parliament Question: Coal block allocation under commercial coal mining policy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 COAL BLOCK ALLOCATION UNDER COMMERCIAL COAL MINING POLICY *105. SHRI RAGHAV CHADHA: Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state: (a) details on the number of coal blocks allocated by Government under the commercial coal mining policy; (b) whether these blocks have achieved actual production within the scheduled timelines and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether Government has reviewed any delays or under performance in these coal blocks and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether Government plans to strengthen monitoring and ensure the policy achieves its intended outcomes and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL & MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. Page 1 of 3STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 FOR REPLY ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING COAL BLOCK ALLOCATION UNDER COMMERCIAL COAL MINING POLICY ASKED BY SHRI RAGHAV CHADHA. (a) The Ministry of Coal has introduced auction of commercial coal mines in June 2020. Till January 2026, 131 blocks have been successfully allocated. The state wise list of allocated mines is as under: State Number of Mines Jharkhand 35 Madhya Pradesh 30 Odisha 25 Chattisgarh 23 Maharashtra 11 West Bengal 3 Assam 2 Arunachal Pradesh 2 Total 131 (b) Till January 2026, 21 coal blocks have received Mine Opening Permissions. Out of 22 coal blocks having scheduled date of Mine Opening Permission by January, 2026, 16 coal blocks have received Mine Opening Permissions. 5 coal blocks having scheduled date of Mine Opening Permission after January, 2026 have also received Mine Opening Permissions ahead of schedule. The development activities in the mines start after the grant of Mine Opening Permission. In case of opencast mines, the coal production start after the removal of overburden and in case of underground mines, inclines or shaft are completed and thereafter coal production starts. Out of the 21 coal blocks, 11 blocks have started coal production. The details of yearly coal production from commercial mines are as under: Year Coal Production (in Million Tonne) 2021-22 1.15 2022-23 7.23 2023-24 12.55 2024-25 23.50 2025-26 (till Jan 2026) 20.59 Total 65.02 (c) Yes, the allocated coal blocks are regularly reviewed and monitored through meetings. These meetings are attended by all relevant stakeholders, including officials from State Governments and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). During these meetings, the challenges encountered in the operationalization/progress of the Page 2 of 3mines are examined in detail to facilitate timely resolution and ensure timely progress in the mine. The allocation agreement prescribes specific timelines for the completion of various milestones. In cases where a milestone is not achieved within the stipulated time-frame, show- cause notices are issued to the concerned allottee. To examine the issue of delay in achievement of milestone, a Scrutiny Committee has been constituted. The Committee deliberates upon the reply of the allottee and also the allottees are given an opportunity to represent their cases before the committee. Based on the allottee’s submissions and deliberations in the meeting, the Committee recommends for imposition of penalty wherever it finds the allottee responsible for the delay in achievement of milestone or condone where the allottee is not found responsible for the delay. Based on the recommendation of the Committee, Ministry takes the necessary actions. (d) The Government, with the implementation of the Commercial Coal Mining Policy in June 2020, has taken significant steps towards achievement of Aatmanirbharta in domestic coal production. The Ministry has a robust monitoring mechanism in place and strengthens it whenever the need arises. The salient features of the monitoring mechanism are as follows: i. Regular review meetings with coal block allottees and State Governments to monitor progress and resolve issues related to land acquisition, statutory clearances, and infrastructure development. ii. Implementation of a transparent Single Window System for Ease of Doing Business, expediting mines operationalization and redressal of grievances of project proponents. iii. Policy reforms aimed at expediting operationalization, such as removal of several approval requirements, streamlining of procedures, and active coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to fast-track environmental and forest clearances. iv. The Ministry has appointed a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for constant review and support to project proponents for early operationalization of mines. v. Constitution of a Scrutiny Committee comprising coal industry experts and representatives from Central and State Governments to transparently evaluate delays, examine allottee representations, and recommend penalties or condonation, as applicable. ****** Page 3 of 3