(a) whether there is any proposal to allow the developers
of captive coal mines to sell the surplus coal to the
States;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Planning Commission wants the Government to
open up the trading in coal to private players or continue
monopoly of the public sector;
(d) if so, whether the Government has accepted this
proposal; and
(e) if so, the time by which it is likely to be
implemented?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF
COAL AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
(SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a): No, Sir.
(b): Does not arise in view of reply given at (a) above.
(c) & (d): The Coal Mines (Nationalization) Amendment Bill,
2000 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in April 2000. The Bill
seeks to allow Indian companies to explore and mine coal and
lignite resources in the country without the existing
restriction of captive use. The Bill was referred to the
Standing Committee on Industry on 27.04.2000 and subsequently
to the Standing Committee on Energy on 22.11.2000 for
examination and report. Due to stiff resistance from certain
quarters including the trade unions, it was decided that the
Bill would be passed in the Parliament only after reaching a
consensus. The Cabinet Secretariat has notified the
constitution of a new Group of Ministers (GoM) under the
Chairmanship of the Finance Minister to consider issues related
to the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Bill, 2000.
(e): The Coal Mines (Nationalization) Amendment Bill, 2000 is
in the Parliament and therefore, it is not feasible to fix a
time frame for implementation.