Coal, mines bill report to be tabled Wednesday

The report of select committees on the mines and minerals and coal bills will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, informed sources said.

Both the reports, however, have dissent notes from the Congress and the Left, the sources told IANS.

The two bills -- the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 -- which replace ordinances promulgated by the government, were sent to a Select Committee of the upper house on March 11, with a mandate to present its report on or before March 18.

The government has stressed that it is important to pass the two bills before the session breaks on March 20 as otherwise it would effect mining and the life of thousands of workers across the country.

Opposition members on both panels had demanded extending the time for the committees. The government did not agree.