(a) whether coal was considered as an essential commodity
and included under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 earlier
and excluded later;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Ministry had taken up the issue of inclusion
of coal again under the Essential Commodities Act with the
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to
regulate production and distribution of coal;
(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(e) if not, the reason therefor?
MINISTER OF COAL (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT AS MENTIONED IN ANSWER TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.59
FOR ANSWER ON 03.08.2011 ASKED BY SHRI SAKTI MOHAN MALIK REGARDING
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF COAL.
(a) &(b) : Coal was earlier classified as an essential commodity
in terms of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. With the enactment
of the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2006, coal stands omitted
from the list of essential commodities. The said Amendment Act came
into force with effect from 12.02.2007. In order to regulate colliery
operations, coal transportation etc., the Colliery Control Rules, 2004
have been framed under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation)
Act, 1957 and were notified in the Gazette of India on 25.8.2004.
(c) &(d) : No such proposal is under consideration at present.
(e): Does not arise in view of the reply to part (c) & (d) above.