source of the data from which one might have cross-checked the years to which the data relate. Quite often one assumes that the data is probably drawn from the primary survey carried out by the researchers. The THE significance of coal as a commercial fuel can be seen from the fact that with a 40 per cent share in total commercial energy consumption, it forms the largest primary energy source in India. An equally impor tant fact is that over 60 per cent of the power generation in the country is based on coal. This makes its influence ail pervading on, what may be termed, the 'commercial economy of India'; in the light of this, it is surprising that not enough published material is available on aspects of coal planning in India. Though, the same cannot be said of the unpublished reports and papers on the subject with the government institutions, unfortunately, access to them has remained restricted. To quote an example, two major studies were undertaken by the BICP during the 80s which dwelt on various economic problems and aspects of the coal sector at considerable length, yet these studies have to date remained out of the reach of those interested in research in this area. In the light of this, the book under review here by Gopal Kadekodi is a welcome addition to the literature on the subject; particularly, as it gives comprehensive coverage to the many issues involved in planning for the sector. The book is divided into two parts. The first part consists of four chapters, wherein the author deals with the economics of costs and prices. Here he relates costs to issues such as the rate of production, theexhausti- bility of the resource, the physical aspects of production and those related to the productivity in coat mining. In the second part the author addresses certain issues, which though they seem peripheral in the present milieu, were seen to be important in the past and drew enough attention from policymakers. To sight an example, coal benefication was seen as a solution to the problem of high ash content in Indian coal until a few years back. The issue was perhaps settled by the BICP study undertaken during the early 80s. Similarly, the author addresses an issue related to an important side effect, viz, environmental pollution caused by the development of coal mines as well as by the operations of washeries. This is an aspect which had in the earlier period since the na tionalisation of the coal mines remained generally outside the purview of the investment planning in the coal sector, not to speak, of the public sector.
