Following is from a PIB.

The Minister of State for Coal Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that the exploration activity has established additional resources during Xth Plan period in several coalfields including Orissa and West Bengal. Giving details, he said during the period January, 2006 to March, 2007, 4080 million tonnes of new coal resources have been estimated in the country. As a result the inventory of Geological Resources of Coal in India, prepared by Geological Survey of India (GSI) has increased by 4080 mt as indicated below:

Data of Estimation

Total estimated geological resources of coal in India (in million Tonnes)

As on 1.4.07

257,381

As on 1.1.2006

253,301

Addition of coal resources from 1.1.06 to 1.4.07

4,080

           

Dr. Rao further informed that out of the total addition of coal resources mentioned above 520 million tonnes have been estimated in the state of West Bengal and 1234 million tonnes in the state of Orissa.

The state-wise and coalfield-wise details of estimation of additional coal resources in blocks where exploration has been concluded during the period from January, 2006 to March, 2007 are given as under:-

 

State

Coalfields

New coal resources

Estimated (in million Tonnes)

West Bengal

Raniganj

520

Jharkhand

Ramgarh

79

Jharkhand

West Bokora

186

Jharkhand

North Karnpura

229

Madhya Pradesh

Singaralui

588

Chhattisgarh

Hasdo-Arand

8

Maharasthra

Wardha Valley

173

Maharasthra

Kamptee

55

Maharasthra

Nand Bander

366

Orissa

Talchar

1234

Andhra Pradesh

Godavari  Valley

569

Sikkim

Rangit Valley

73

Total

4080

The Minister added that based on the potential of the blocks revealed from regional exploration data the detailed exploration is under process in different blocks/areas.