Coal Controller Organization

India is one of the major industrial hubs in the world and a majority of its industry is based on coal-powered electricity, also at present, a majority of powerplants in India are using coal as the primary fuel for power generation. India holds the second position globally in coal production and mines more than 716 metric tons of coal annually. Because of such a large amount of coal reserves and mining in India, the Government of India has a dedicated ministry named the Ministry of Coal. The Ministry of coal also has one subordinate branch called the Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO). 

More than 55% of energy demand in India is fulfilled by the coal

Coal Controller Organization

What is Coal Controller’s Organization?

The Coal controller’s Organization or the office of Coal controller/commissioner is one of the oldest coal offices of the coal sector in India founded in 1916. During World War I there was a great demand for coal all over the world as coal was the only primary fuel available at that time and the whole world. Thus to regulate the production and trade of coal, the CCO was formed. In 1944 the Colliery Control order (CCO) was released due to the acute scarcity of coal, this via this order the government took control of the pricing and distribution of coal. However, this order was revised several times between 1945 and 1996 and the pricing of coal was no more under the CCO. However again in 2000 with the revision in the Colliery Control Rules, the regulation of the price came into the hands of CCO. At present the Colliery Control Rules, 2004 are applicable which were introduced in August 2004.

The Coal Controller’s organization is the primary branch of the Ministry of Coal with its headquarters located in Kolkata, West Bengal. While the other field offices can found in Ranchi, Bilaspur, Asansol, Sambalpur, Dhanbad, Nagpur, and Kothagudem. The CCO direct reports to the Ministry of Coal and is engaged in collecting and maintaining all monthly records of total coal production by mines in the public and private sectors in India.

Coal Demand In India

As per the data presented by the Ministry of Coal in 2016, the present coal reserves in India are more than 107,207 Metric Tones.

Responsibilities and working of Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO):

The Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO) is responsible for carrying out the below activities.

• Setting up the standards for the different grades and the sizes of coal and compelling all collieries to follow that standard.
• To carry out maintenance of coal grades in case of any discrepancy found. 
• Regular inspection of collieries to ensure proper standards of grades and size.
• The CCPO also acts as a conciliator, in case any dispute arises between the consumer and the owner of the mine.
• Regular control of stock disposal and monitoring of coal mine production.
• The CCO also makes sure that anybody involved in the buy or sell of coal should pay the applicable taxes on it.
• It’s the duty of the CCO to collect the monthly data on the total coal production and submit it to the respective state and central ministries. 
•  The opening, closing, or reopening of any mine or a section of mine can only be done with the permission of the CCO.

More than 70% of Coal reserves in India are mainly found in the South-Central region i.e. in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. 

Contribution of the Coal sector to the Indian Economy:

The Indian coal sector is one of the major sectors contributing heavily to the economic development of India. In India, there are 4 grades of coal available Lignite, Bituminous, Sub-Bituminous, and Anthracite, and out which Anthracite is the highest grade of coal. India stood as the second-largest producer of Anthracite globally after China. The mining sector accounts for more than 2% contribution to the total GDP of India. In the year 2020-21 the total exports of coking coal from India was more than 8 Lac tonnes and this coal is mainly exported to the neighbouring countries of India like Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. A recent study shows that more than 13 million people in India are directly or indirectly employed in the coal sector. For example in the mining, refining, Power Plants, and in the transportation of coal.