Stephen Colbert is on NBC.
Coal mining in India began in 1774 when John Sumner and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the East India Company commenced commercial exploitation in the Raniganj Coalfield along the Western bank of Damodar river .. Suetonius Grant Heatly. Suetonius Grant Heatly. East India Company. East India Company. Raniganj Coalfield. Raniganj Coalfield. Damodar river. Damodar River. As on 31 March 2015 , India had estimated coal reserves of 306.6 e9MT , the fifth largest coal reserves in the world .. India is the fourth largest producer of coal in the world , producing 536.5 e6MT in 2014 .. Due to high demand and poor average quality , India is forced to import high quality coal to meet the requirements of steel plants .. India 's coal imports have risen from 43.08 e6MT in 2006-07 to 199.88 e6MT in 2015-16 .. India 's coal exports rose from 1.55 e6MT in 2006-07 to 2.45 e6MT in 2009-10 , but subsequently declined to 1.25 e6MT in 2015-16 .