Rajya Sabha to take up mining and coal bills today

Govt working against April 5 deadline when ordinances that these bills replace are due to lapse

The government is looking to clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle today with the Mines and Minerals bill and the Coal mines bill coming up before the house.

The Select committees had tabled their reports before the house on Wednesday.

The government is working against a deadline of April 5 when the ordinances that these bills replace, are due to lapse with the Parliament slated to go for recess this Saturday.  

While the government is smug about the fate of the bills with several Opposition parties Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on board. However the Congress is protesting against the hurried manner in which the bills are being pushed through.

There could be trouble from the Congress benches with one Congress member said, “We will do everything to protest against the bills being bulldozed and several key provisions diluted.” Left members are likely to push for amendments to both bills. 

The government is aware that Mines and Minerals Bill would have to be passed with two amendments as recommended by the select committee. Since it will have to be sent back to the Lok Sabha to pass it afresh, the  government is banking on the Upper House clearing it by Thursday after which the Lok Sabha can clear it on Friday. 

However should the house proceedings not go as per plan then the government could extend the session till Tuesday to get the two bill cleared.