Coal Ministry discusses new Mining Bill

The Coal Ministry is holding discussions on the draft Mines and Minerals Bill for greater clarity on proposals, as the impact would be highest on Coal India, the country's largest mining company, a government official said today.

"We are holding discussions on the proposals with the government for clarity on our existing rehabilitation policy with proposed new proposals on profit sharing," Coal Secretary C Balakrishnan said here today.

CIL rehabilitation policy has inbuilt system of offering one job for every two acres of land acquired besides other benefits.

"We want set off for our rehabilitation activities, if we have to keep job offers in the new proposal," CIL chairman and managing director Partha Bhattacharyya said.

The draft Mines and Minerals Bill proposes to offer 26 per cent profit or 10 per cent loyalty from the mining activity, whichever is higher.

The new Bill scheme does not have any other benefit for rehabilitation other than royalty or profit.

CIL has 471 coal mines in eight sates with a production of 430 million tonnes per annum.