Zee Media Bureau
Lok Sabha on Friday passed Bill replacing an ordinance brought in the wake of Supreme Court order cancelling allocation of 204 coal blocks.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, which replaces an ordinance, was brought in the wake of the Supreme Court order cancelling the allocation of 204 coal blocks on September 24 and resetting the agenda for their allocation.
The ordinance was issued in October to facilitate auctioning of the cancelled blocks. In the first round, 74 blocks are to be auctioned by the government.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill said it provided for allocation of coal mines and vesting of the right, title and interest in and over the land and mine infrastructure, together with mining leases, to successful bidders and allottees through a transparent bidding process.
This will ensure continuity in coal mining operations and production of coal. The bill prescribes the conditions to rationalise the coal sector for mining operations, consumption and sale, it said.
With agency inputs
