Parliament Question: Auction of Commercial Coal Mines

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*144 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 AUCTION OF COMMERCIAL COAL MINES *144. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT;

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of total number and names of coal mines offered under the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions, State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh;

(b) the details of the total number of bids received and successful bidders for each mine, State- wise including company names, final bid values, production capacity and the projected timelines for the commencement of mining operations;

(c) the measures taken by the Government to ensure transparency and competitiveness in auctions, stringent environmental compliance and clear rehabilitation frameworks for local tribal communities affected by these new auctions; and

(d) the details of steps taken by the Government to optimize sustainable mining practices and land restoration in these newly auctioned blocks? 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 5STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*144 FOR REPLY ON 29.07.2026 REGARDING AUCTION OF COMMERCIAL COAL MINES ASKED BY SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE AND SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT

(a) Total 12 coal mines were offered under 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions details of which may be seen at Annexure I

(b) Total 18 bids have been received for 6 coal mines out of 12 coal mines put up in 15th round of commercial auction. Details of bids received is tabulated below:

S. Name of Coal Peak Rated Name of the Bidder No. Mine Capacity

(MTPA) Telangana Power Generation Corporation Dip Side Ext. of 1 2.5 Limited PKOC Singareni Collieries Company Limited Qube Commercial Pvt. Ltd.

2 Mandla South 0.22 Shyam Ores (Jharkhand) Pvt. Ltd.

Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd.

3 Margo East* NA Jharkhand Exploration & Mining Corporation Limited Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd.

4 Margo West* NA Jharkhand Exploration & Mining Corporation Limited JSW Steel Limited Singareni Collieries Company Limited CG Syn-gas & Chemicals Ltd AMR India Ltd.

5 Tara (Revised) 6.00 Jindal Power Ltd.

Northern Coalfields Ltd.

Penna Enterprises Ltd.

AMPL Resources Pvt. Ltd.

Neelkanth Infra Mining Ltd.

Jharkhand Exploration & Mining Corporation 6 Jawardaha South* NA Limited *PRC values are not available for partially explored blocks It is pertinent to mention that the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions is currently under the bid evaluation stage. In accordance with the standard tender methodology, the electronic auction will be conducted subsequently, only after the submitted bids are evaluated and the respective bidders are declared technically qualified. Therefore, the successful bidders, Page 2 of 5final bid values and production timelines shall be determined upon the conclusion of auction process.

Projected timeline for the commencement of mining operations is governed by the Efficiency Parameters stipulated in the Agreement, which prescribe the maximum permissible period for completion of all mandatory milestones up to the grant of the Mine Opening Permission (or Board Approval, as applicable). Accordingly, the maximum time allowed from the Date of Allocation for completion of all pre-operational milestones is 40 months for fully explored mines and 52 months for partially explored mines.

(c) Government has undertaken several measures to ensure transparency, competitiveness in auctions, stringent environmental compliance and rehabilitation frameworks for local tribal communities.

Transparency and efficiency is institutionally embedded through a rule-based auction framework under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Auctions are conducted entirely online through the MSTC e-auction portal using a two-stage electronic bidding process, with clear eligibility criteria, predefined revenue-sharing bids, public disclosure of tender documents, and time-stamped bid submissions to limit discretion. Details of qualified bidders, auction outcomes, and allotments are placed in the public domain. The safeguards include bidder qualification requirements, mandatory disclosures of participation form related parties and undertakings against collusive behaviour. Additionally, provisions for cancellation of coal blocks in cases of misrepresentation, and debarment from future auctions act as deterrents. Strengthening real- time scrutiny and enforcing penalties decisively are critical to ensuring that private participation in commercial coal mining remains competitive and transparent.

The Government through Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has brought in a comprehensive framework for ensuring environmental safeguards. All coal mining projects are required to obtain the requisite Environmental Clearance supported by project-specific Environmental Management Plans, with compliance monitored by the concerned authorities. Central Government has devised the process of Environment Impact Assessment, as a regulatory tool under the provision of Environment

(Protection) Act, 1986. Under the said Act, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 as amended from time to time, which deals with the process of granting Environmental Clearance (EC) after having comprehensive analysis of EIA reports prepared by the coal companies. The respective SPCBs/PCCs issue the Consent to Operate under the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to oversee the compliance of emissions/effluent standards.

In terms of Clause 11.5 of the CMDPA, the Successful Bidder is required to implement mechanised means of undertaking Mining Operations at the Coal Mine in line with modern and prevalent technologies; to strive towards minimisation of the carbon footprint from Mining Operations and to undertake steps for reduction of environmental pollution and promotion of sustainability, in accordance with Good Industry Practice; and to make necessary arrangements for mechanised loading and establishment of first-mile connectivity for transportation of coal from the pit-head, so as to reduce environmental pollution.

Page 3 of 5With regard to acquisition of land and diversion of forest land for coal mining projects, it is governed by the applicable statutory provisions, including Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA), the relevant land acquisition laws, and the provisions relating to forest and environmental clearances. Compensation and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) benefits to project-affected families are provided in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions, including the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957, as applicable. Wherever the provisions of PESA and FRA are applicable, the prescribed procedures, including consultation with or consent of the Gram Sabha, as required under the respective statutory framework, are required to be followed by the concerned authorities before grant of the requisite approvals.

(d) The Government has incorporated comprehensive environmental safeguards within the statutory and contractual framework governing the auctioned commercial coal blocks to promote sustainable mining and scientific land restoration. All coal mining projects are required to obtain the requisite Environmental Clearance and Forest Clearance, supported by project-specific Environmental Management Plans, with compliance monitored by the concerned authorities. Mining Plan and Mine Closure Plan guidelines do provide for land restoration duly ensuring the mine closure cost deposition by the coal companies and settlement of claim of re-imbursement after ensuring the compliance of closure activities. Land restoration has to be done progressively and also after the completion of mining activity as per the progressive and final mine closure plan. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreement (CMDPA) requires successful bidders to adopt mechanised mining using modern technologies, minimise carbon footprint, reduce environmental pollution, establish first-mile connectivity for coal evacuation, and undertake scientific mine closure with ecological restoration in accordance with the approved mine closure plan and applicable laws. The Government also promotes the adoption of advanced low-impact mining technologies, utilisation of overburden for productive purposes, implementation of dust mitigation measures, and afforestation and bio-reclamation activities to restore mined-out areas and improve environmental sustainability.

****** Page 4 of 5Annexure I Details of coal mines offered in 15th round of commercial auction S. No. State Name of the Coal Mine Act Status of Exploration 1 Tara (Revised) CMSP Explored Chhattisgarh 2 Mahai West MMDR Explored 3 Teram MMDR Explored 4 Jawardaha South MMDR Partially Explored Jharkhand 5 Margo East MMDR Partially Explored 6 Margo West MMDR Partially Explored 7 Mandla South CMSP Explored Madhya Pradesh 8 Brahampuri CMSP Explored 9 Odisha Takua MMDR Partially Explored 10 Telangana Dipside of PKoC MMDR Explored 11 Jaganathpur A CMSP Partially Explored West Bengal 12 Jaganathpur B CMSP Explored **** Page 5 of 5