ACTIVITIES OF COAL CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (CCAI) During the year 2020-21, the entire world had undergone an unprecedented crisis caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and India was no exception. The contagion temporarily halted major production and business activities which had a cascading effect across all sectors including Coal. Coal Consumers’ Association of India (CCAI) interacted with the Ministry of Coal, Power, Steel and DIPP, Ministry of Railways, Railway Board and the Zonal Railway offices, Chairman & Director Marketing and Senior officials of Coal India Limited (CIL) and its Subsidiary Coal Companies in order to highlight several operational hurdles faced by its valued members during this difficult period. The Association also actively participated in the virtual meetings and video conferences organised by MoC, CIL and its Subsidiaries as physical meetings were prohibited and virtual interactions have become the new normal. CCAI was instrumental in raising all the relevant issues, detrimental to the interests of the consumers across the board, pertaining to supply & transportation of coal, as well as taking an active part in formulation of new policies by disseminating the views and suggestions of our valued member organisations. It is worth mentioning that overall activities of the Association have increased manifolds during the year. The Officials of the Association also visited CIL Subsidiaries including ECL in order to raise persistent issues related to coal quality and procurement from the region. CCAI, alongwith its esteemed members participated in the 5th Joint Working Group Meeting on coal between India and Republic of Indonesia on 5th November 2020 in the valued presence of the Ministry of Coal and Indonesian Coal Mining Association (ICMA) discussing various business opportunities related to the dry fuel under the present socio-economic scenario. The Association also made numerous representations on the basis of Constituent Complaints received from the Member Companies during the FY 2020-21 and appealed for policy-level changes in the co sector so that both Utilities and Industries may survive and thrive under ongoing adversities. As it is difficult to provide the true reflection of the Association's voluminous activities within a few pages, a glimpse of some of the concerns raised by CCAI during FY 2020-21 has been furnished below:
Operational issues: * Request for Extension of time for deposition of coal value by E-auction/FSA customers: The pandemic outbreak enabled the Central government to further extend the nationwide lockdown for a second term from 15th April to 3rd May, 2020 which increased the problems of both Power utilities and Industries, who were already struggling due to sinking demand, lack of workforce and crisis of fund. To tackle the situation, Ministry of Coal and CIL were requested to extend the last date of payment against the coal allotted to them through FSA/ E-auctions. Considering the prevailing situation the extension was granted multiple times. * Request for continuing temporary dispensation for change of mode of supply from Road to Rail: The consumers having FSAs through linkage auction route, requested for temporary dispensation for change of coal supply route from Road to Rail to continue till the next financial year (March ’21) as road transport was highly affected due to persisting lockdown in parts of the country. Also there has been acute shortage of manpower for coal loading/unloading. CIL had initially allowed change of mode form Road to Rail for orders booked under Special Forward E-auctions and FSAs through NRS Linkage Auction Route for three months (April-June2020), which has been extended for another three months (July-September 2020).
CCAI ANNUAL REPORT, 2020-21
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