Parliament Question: Coal exchange and mine closure reforms

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *319 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 COAL EXCHANGE AND MINE CLOSURE REFORMS *319 SHRI ARUN SINGH: Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state: (a) the current status of the Coal Trading Exchange (CTE); (b) out of the 131 coal blocks allocated under the Commercial Coal Mining Policy the numbers that have commenced actual production as of February, 2026; (c) the penalties that have been imposed for delays in achieving the milestones; (d) whether Government has completed the revised Jharia Master Plan for rehabilitation and the new technologies which are being deployed to manage long-standing underground mine fires; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY) (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House. 1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *319 FOR ANSWER ON 23.03.2026 REGARDING COAL EXCHANGE AND MINE CLOSURE REFORMS ASKED BY SHRI ARUN SINGH. (a): Ministry of Coal has initiated the process of setting up of Coal Exchange (s) in the country in pursuance of the legislative provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2025. Section 18B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2025 empowers the Central Government to frame the rules for the purpose of Coal Exchange (s). In pursuance of the provisions, Ministry of Coal has initiated the process of formulation of the Coal Exchange Rules, which shall provide for the objectives and structure of the Coal Exchange (s) to be established in the country. (b): Out of the 131 coal blocks allocated under the Commercial Coal Mining Policy, 21 coal blocks have obtained Mine Opening Permission and 12 coal blocks have commenced production as on 28th February, 2026. (c): The details of penalties imposed against coal blocks allocated under commercial auction scheme post 2020 is at the Annexure. (d) & (e): Government has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) in June, 2025 for dealing with Fire, Subsidence & Rehabilitation of affected families of Jharia Coalfield. The initial phase of Revised JMP is applicable for the 81 most vulnerable sites and the initial phase is to be completed by December, 2028. The fire is being extinguished by digging out through excavation or blanketing by overburden (OB). To monitor the success of this process, Bharat Coking Coal Limited periodically conducts surveys through the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, for delineation of surface fires. As per the NRSC survey report of the year 2017-18, the surface fire area was 3.26 sq. km, which has reduced to 1.53 sq. km in the year 2024-25. Further, as per the survey of the year 2020-21, there were 27 fire locations, out of which 17 have been dealt with by excavation and blanketing through OB as of now. **** 2Annexure (RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 319 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026) Details of Performance Bank Guarantee deductions Not Appropriation/ Sl. Appropriation Appropriated Coal Mines Allottee Non-Achievement of Milestones Termination Appropriated No. Amount (Rs) due to Court order date Case M/s Yazdani Marki 1 International Private Approval of Mining Plan 06-11-2023 ₹ 2,28,30,958.00 ₹ 2,28,30,958.00 ₹ 0.00 Mangli-II Limited Marki M/s Sobhagya Mercantile 2 MS-II, Approval of Mine Plan 22.05.2025 ₹ 8,84,17,773.98 ₹ 8,84,17,773.98 ₹ 0.00 Mangli IV Limited Dahegaon M/s Ambuja Cements 3 MS-2, Approval of Mining Plan 26.02.2026 ₹ 2,29,83,095.00 ₹ 2,29,83,095.00 ₹ 0.00 Gowari Limited Stratatech Mineral 4 Dhirauli Resources Private Environment Clearance-MS-3 29/02/2024 ₹ 46,91,68,386.87 ₹ 46,91,68,386.87 ₹ 0.00 Limited Sahapur Sarda Energy & Minerals 5 Environment Clearance-MS-3 29/02/2024 ₹ 6,88,95,341.57 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 6,88,95,341.57 West Limited M/s Chowgule and 6 Sahapur East Company Private Delay in Environment Clearance 27/03/2024 ₹ 10,48,64,923.00 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 10,48,64,923.00 Limited. Gondbahera Delay in Preparation of GR (MS- 7 M/s Mahan Energen Ltd. 15/02/2025 ₹ 1,69,04,063.00 ₹ 1,69,04,063.00 ₹ 0.00 Ujheni East 1) Beherabandh Delay in Preparation of GR (MS- 8 North Auro Coal Pvt. Ltd 14/02/2025 ₹ 2,32,68,750.00 ₹ 2,32,68,750.00 ₹ 0.00 1) Extension Marwatola 9 JSW Cement Limited Approval of Mining Plan (MS-2) 18/06/2025 ₹ 17,95,32,287.00 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 17,95,32,287.00 VI 3Details of Performance Bank Guarantee deductions Not Appropriation/ Sl. Appropriation Appropriated Coal Mines Allottee Non-Achievement of Milestones Termination Appropriated No. Amount (Rs) due to Court order date Case Choritand M/s Rungta Metals 10 Mining Plan Approval 04.12.2025 ₹ 4,36,33,188.00 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 4,36,33,188.00 Tiliaya Private Limited Patal East M/s RCR Steel Works 11 Mining Plan Approval 23.12.2025 ₹ 1,25,25,322.30 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 1,25,25,322.30 Eastern Part Private Limited 1.Prospecting License or Notification under section 4 of the Jogeshwar & CBA Act, 1957, as applicable South West Pinnacle 12 Khas 2.Completion of 20.11.2023 ₹ 30,37,500.00 ₹ 30,37,500.00 ₹ 0.00 Exploration Limited Jogeshwar Drilling/Exploration 3.Preparation of Geological Report (GR) MS-1 Jogeshwar & Preparation of Geological Report South West Pinnacle 13 Khas (GR) not done within 24 months 10.02.2025 ₹ 30,37,500.00 ₹ 30,37,500.00 ₹ 0.00 Exploration Limited Jogeshwar from allotment order date MS-1 Goquest Solutions Private Preparation of Geological Report Limited (Formerly known 14 Basantpur (GR)not done within 15 months 11.03.2025 ₹ 23,47,407.00 ₹ 23,47,407.00 ₹ 0.00 as Gangaramchak Mining from allotment order date MS-1 Pvt. Ltd.) Preparation of Geological Report Rauta Shreesatya Mines Private 15 (GR)not done within 24 months 10.06.2025 ₹ 14,17,500.00 ₹ 14,17,500.00 ₹ 0.00 Closed Limited from allotment order date MS-1 4Details of Performance Bank Guarantee deductions Not Appropriation/ Sl. Appropriation Appropriated Coal Mines Allottee Non-Achievement of Milestones Termination Appropriated No. Amount (Rs) due to Court order date Case 1.Prospecting License or Notification under section 4 of the CBA Act, 1957, as applicable Rauta Shreesatya Mines Private 16 2.Completion of 08.03.2024 ₹ 14,17,500.00 ₹ 14,17,500.00 ₹ 0.00 Closed Limited Drilling/Exploration 3.Preparation of Geological Report (GR) MS-1 Burakhap Shreesatya Mines Private 17 Approval of Mine Plan, MS II 12.06.2025 ₹ 10,87,79,469.00 ₹ 10,87,79,469.00 ₹ 0.00 Small Patch Limited Preparation of Geological Report Urma M/s Auro Infra Private 18 (GR) not done within 15 months 01.08.2024 ₹ 2,16,00,000.00 ₹ 2,16,00,000.00 ₹ 0.00 Paharitola Limited from allotment order date M/s Adani Enterprises 19 Gondulpara Approval of Mine Plan, MS II 03.08.2024 ₹ 18,78,73,420.00 ₹ 18,78,73,420.00 ₹ 0.00 Limited Brinda & Dalmia Cement Bharat 20 Approval of Mine Plan, MS II 28.10.2025 ₹ 5,04,14,418.23 ₹ 5,04,14,418.23 ₹ 0.00 Sasai Limited Hindalco Industries Ltd. 21 Chakla Environment Clearance, MS III 06.11.2024 ₹ 24,18,99,473.30 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 24,18,99,473.30 (HIL) 22 Jitpur Terri Mining Pvt. Ltd. Approval of Mine Plan, MS II 26.02.2026 ₹ 7,07,95,123.000 ₹ 7,07,95,123.000 ₹ 0.00 Assam Mineral Preparation of Geological Report 23 Binja Development Corp. (GR) not done within 15 months 22.05.2025 ₹ 58,80,000.00 ₹ 58,80,000.00 ₹ 0.00 Limited from allotment order date 5Details of Performance Bank Guarantee deductions Not Appropriation/ Sl. Appropriation Appropriated Coal Mines Allottee Non-Achievement of Milestones Termination Appropriated No. Amount (Rs) due to Court order date Case Assam Mineral Preparation of Geological Report 24 Binja Development Corp. (GR) not done within 24 months 25.02.2026 ₹ 58,80,000.00 ₹ 58,80,000.00 ₹ 0.00 Limited from allotment order date 25 Datima Shree Cement Limited Mining Plan Approval 26.06.2025 ₹ 3,63,51,707.00 ₹ 3,63,51,707.00 ₹ 0.00 Jitusol Developers 26 Kasta East Approval of mine plan -MS - 2 06.03.2024 ₹ 2,55,27,988.55 ₹ 2,55,27,988.55 ₹ 0.00 Private Limited 27 Utkal C JSPL Approval of mine plan -MS - 2 14.02.2025 ₹ 27,06,30,820.00 ₹ 27,06,30,820.00 ₹ 0.00 Radhikapur 28 Vedanta Ltd Environment Clearance 21.07.2025 ₹ 29,23,55,117.68 ₹ 0.00 ₹ 29,23,55,117.68 West M/s Yazdani Preparation of Geological Report 29 Bankhui International Private (GR) not completed within 15 21.10.2025 ₹ 58,85,625.00 ₹ 58,85,625.00 ₹ 0.00 Limited months from allocation M/s Mahanadi Mines and 30 Bijahan Minerals Approval of mine plan -MS - 2 05.02.2026 ₹ 21,59,52,375 ₹ 21,59,52,375 ₹ 0.00 Private Limited Assam Mineral 31 Garampani Approval of mine plan -MS - 2 08.03.2024 ₹ 4,39,26,310.13 ₹ 4,39,26,310.13 ₹ 0.00 Development Corporation Assam Mineral 32 Koilajan Approval of mine plan -MS - 2 06.03.2024 ₹ 27,75,823.07 ₹ 27,75,823.07 ₹ 0.00 Development Corporation ₹ ₹ Total ₹ 94,37,05,652.85 2,65,08,09,165.68 1,70,71,03,512.83 6