(a) whether the Government have reviewed the progress of
implementation of new coal projects;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for
delay in their execution as per original time schedule,
project-wise;
(c) whether the Government have taken fresh initiatives to
cut down delay in acquisition of land and avoidance of
litigation for new coal mines projects by revising the
existing policy; and
(d) if so, the details of reforms finalised / under
consideration ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI N. T. SHANMUGAM)
(a) Yes, Sir. Review of major coal projects i.e. projects
costing Rs.100 crores and above is conducted on quarterly
basis by an Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by Secretary
(Coal) and having members from Planning Commission,
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation and Ministry of Environment &
Forests. Central Sector Projects including coal projects
costing Rs.20 crores and above are also monitored by the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation based on
the inputs provided by the respective companies.
Quarterly review of major coal projects was last held
in Ministry of Coal on 18.7.2000.
(b) The details of major coal projects reviewed alongwith
reasons for delay in their implementation against their
original time schedule are given in the Annexure.
(c)&(d) To cut down delays in acquisition of land certain
amendments in the Land Acquisition Act 1894 are being
studied by a Group of Ministers. Lands for coal mining
projects are acquired under the CBA Act 1957. After any
amendments are carried out in Land Acquisition Act 1894,
Ministry of Coal may consider amending CBA Act 1957 for
facilitating speedier acquisition of land for coal mining
projects.