Coal in India
[3] Electricity from new solar farms in India is cheaper than that generated by the country's existing coal plants.
In March 2015, the government permitted private companies to mine coal for use in their own cement, steel, power or aluminium plants.
In the final step toward denationalization, in February 2018, the government permitted private firms to enter the commercial coal mining industry.
The move broke the monopoly over commercial mining that state-owned Coal India had enjoyed since nationalisation in 1973.
The growth of Indian coal mining remained slow for nearly a century due to low demand.
During the First World War, coal production received a boost due to increased demand, but declined again in the early 1930s.
They broke the previous monopolies held by British and other Europeans, establishing many collieries at locations such as Khas Jharia, Jamadoba, Balihari, Tisra, Katrasgarh, Kailudih, Kusunda, Govindpur, Sijua, Sijhua, Loyabad, Dhansar, Bhuli, Bermo, Mugma, Chasnala-Bokaro, Bugatdih, Putki, Chirkunda, Bhowrah, Sinidih, Kendwadih, and Dumka.
[6][7] Seth Khora Ramji Chawda of Kutch was the first Indian to break the British monopoly in the Jharia Coalfields.
[6][8] Natwarlal Devram Jethwa says that The East Indian Railway in 1894–95 extended its line from Barakar to Dhanbad via Katras and Jharia.
The location of his three collieries named Jeenagora, Khas Jherria, Gareria is mentioned also in 1917 Gazetteers of Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha.
The National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC), a Government of India Undertaking, was established in 1956 with the collieries owned by the railways.
Right from its genesis, the commercial coal mining in modern times in India has been dictated by the needs of the domestic consumption.
Most of these are in the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
[15] On account of the growing needs of the steel industry, a thrust had to be given on systematic exploitation of coking coal reserves in Jharia coalfield.
Adequate capital investment to meet the burgeoning energy needs of the country was not forthcoming from the private coal mine owners.
On account of these reasons, the Central Government took a decision to nationalize the private coal mines.
The law also permitted private players to mine coal for use in their own cement, steel, power or aluminium plants.
On 20 February 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) permitted private firms to enter the commercial coal mining industry in India.
The move broke the monopoly over commercial mining that state-owned Coal India has enjoyed since nationalisation in 1973.
[citation needed] The following table shows the estimated coal reserves in India by state as of 1 April 2021.
India's net imports of coal grew at a compound annual growth rate of 8.62% over the last 10 years.
The carbon content is low in India's coal, and toxic trace element concentrations are negligible.
[34] Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is linked with asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments,[35] neurological problems, acid rain, global warming, and other severe environmental and public health impacts.
[40] It is alleged that the coal industry's trade union leadership forms the upper echelon of this arrangement and employs caste allegiances to maintain its power.
[41] Pilferage and sale of coal on the black market, inflated or fictitious supply expenses, falsified worker contracts and the expropriation and leasing-out of government land have allegedly become routine.
