CIL adopts flexible R&R policy to boost coal production

The policy also increased compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per acre in lieu of employment to lure land acquisition

The world's largest mining company, Coal India Ltd (CIL) has decided to keep the latest rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) 2012 policy flexible for its subsidiaries for faster land acquisition for projects to ramp up coal production.

"Subsidiaries have been allowed to modify some aspects of the R&R policy within the broad framework," CIL director (technical) N Kumar told PTI.

"The boards of the subsidiaries have been authorised to approve necessary modifications with reference to unique conditions at the subsidiaries concerned," he added.

"Issues are not similar for all places across the country and are unique. A single policy cannot resolve all local issues," Kumar pointed out.

The policy that has been notified also increased compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per acre in lieu of employment to lure land acquisition.

"The subsidiaries can also tweak with conditions on employment terms within the framework. They can also decide on annuity payment terms," Kumar said.

CIL production during 2011-12 was 431 million tonne (mt) and during the current fiscal it was projected to 462 mt.