Coal news and updates

Law & order scenario limiting CMPDI exploration

December 18: The pace of exploration by Coal India Ltd (CIL) subsidiary Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) has been constrained due to cap on the number of boreholes to be drilled in a particular area and also due to law and order problems prevailing in some areas, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said.

CMPDI CMD A K Debnath had earlier told ICMW that they are allowed to drill only 20 boreholes per square kilometre for exploration and quite often do not get environmental clearances for drilling in forest areas.

Goyal said that CIL has been investing in exploration and the expenditure incurred during the last three years was Rs 161.25 crore in 2011-12, Rs 138.63 crores in 2012-13 and Rs 310.02 crore in 2013-14.

The minister said CIL has been able to drill 4.98 lakh meters, 5.62 lakh meters and 6.69 lakh meters respectively during these three years.

“Because of the detailed exploration undertaken by CIL, about 3-4 billion tons of coal reserves are being added each year to the proved category of coal reserves in the country,” the Goyal said.

“However, the pace of exploration has been constrained due to limitation on the boreholes in areas under forest cover and also due to law and order problems prevailing in some areas,” the minister added.