Question : PRIVATISATION OF NEW COAL MINES



(a) whether the Government propose to hand over New Coal Mines to private sector ; and

(b) if so, the details thereof, mine-wise ?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES ( SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)


(a) : The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill 2000 has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha with the following objectives :

i) To allow the Indian Companies to mine coal and lignite in the country without the existing restriction of captive mining. In other words, the objective is to allow the Indian companies in public and private sector to mine coal and lignite and also to sell the same in the open market.

ii) To allow the Indian Companies in the public and private sector to be engaged in exploration of coal and lignite resources in the country.

(b) : Coal blocks can be offered to private sector only when the Amendment Bill becomes a statute, after passing by both the Houses of Parliament.