Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining through video conference here. It was part of the series of announcements made by the Government of India, under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The Coal Ministry in association with FICCI launched the process for auction of these coal mines. A two stage electronic auction process is being adopted for allocation of the coal mines.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that India will overcome the COVID -19 Pandemic and the nation will turn this crisis into an opportunity. He said that this crisis has taught India the lesson of becoming AatmaNirbhar, i.e. Self-Reliant. An AatmaNirbhar Bharat means reducing dependency on imports, and saving foreign currency on imports. It entails that India develop resources domestically so that the country does not have to rely on imports. It also means becoming the biggest exporters of the commodities that we now import.
To achieve this, the PM said that each sector, each product, each service, should be kept in mind and worked holistically, to make India self-reliant in the particular area. This major step taken today will make India self reliant in the Energy sector. This event marks not only the implementation of reforms concerning one Coal Mining Sector but also marks the beginning of lakhs of employment opportunities for the youth. We are not only launching the auction of commercial coal mining today but also freeing the coal sector from decades of lockdown.
PM said that reforms in the minerals sector have got strength from coal mining reforms since minerals like iron, bauxite and other minerals are located very close to the coal reserves. The beginning of auction today for commercial coal mining is a win-win situation for all stakeholders Industries. State governments will get more revenue and a huge population of the country will get employment. There will be a positive impact on every sector.
The Prime Minister said that these coal sector reforms will make eastern and central India, our tribal belt, into pillars of development. These areas have a big number of Aspirational Districts and have not been able to reach the desired level of progress and prosperity. 16 aspirational districts in the country have a huge stock of coal but people of these areas have not got adequate benefit of this. People from these places have to migrate to far-flung cities for employment.
Narendra Modi said that the steps taken towards commercial mining will be very helpful to eastern and central India by providing the local population with employment near their homes. Government has taken a decision to spend 50,000 crore rupees on creating infrastructure for coal extraction and transportation, which will also create employment opportunities.
Pralhad Joshi, Coal and Mines Minister termed the occasion as historic and said that India’s energy demands have been rising nearly 5% per annum. India needs all sources of energy. Coal having nearly 50% share in total energy supply top the country, Coal Ministry has major responsibility to make sure that coal is made available when demanded. Coal India Limited has played a key role in energy sector.
Union Coal Minister said that coal sector is committed to massive capital expenditure and employment plan for coal bearing regions. The production of all mines has registered a quantum jump in last 6 years. Minister emphasized that the laws and auction methodology for commercial mining have been framed with thorough stakeholder involvement. Blocks to be offered have been identified through public consultation and this is the best time for private companies to enter the mining sector.
In this auction process, 41 coal mines are on offer which includes fully explored and partially explored mines. These include 4 coking coal mines which are fully explored mines. These coal mines are located in states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. The auction process will be a two-stage tender process with technical and financial bidding. A technical session on terms and conditions of bidding and process, legal conditions and Agreements of mines, was conducted by Shri M Nagaraju, JS (Nominated Authority), Ministry of Coal.
