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State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) has finalised contracts with regard to the setting up of three washeries and two more are in the advanced stages of being concluded.
Minister of State for Coal Pratik Prakashbapu Patil is monitoring the setting up of CIL washeries so that they could be in place expeditiously.
"Contracts have been finalised for three more washeries. Besides, action to finalise two more washeries is in the advanced stage," a source said.
Further, 12 more washeries have been identified to be taken up during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), the source added.
CIL operates 17 washeries with total capacity of 39.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Of these, 12 are coking coal washeries with 22.18 MTPA capacity, while five are non-coking coal washeries with a total capacity of 17.22 MTPA.
The government had earlier said that not a single washery of CIL could be commissioned during 11th Plan mainly due to delays in securing environmental clearances and non- availability of suitable land.
The Coal Ministry had stated that CIL will set up 20 new washeries with a combined capacity of 111 million tonnes to help realise a better price for its produce.
The Standing Committee on Coal and Steel had earlier pulled up Coal India for delays in setting up of washeries and had desired that coal PSU prepare an action plan to expedite the work of commissioning of washeries.
The committee had also observed that the washeries were not set up despite the Ministry of Environment and Forests restricting the use of coal containing more 34 per cent ash content in power stations located 1,000 km away from pit heads.
