Govt intends to bring Coal Mines Bill in current Parliament session

Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said there are no changes proposed in the Bill

The government intends to introduce the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 to replace the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Second Ordinance in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Stating this, Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal also said "there are no changes proposed in the Bill".

He said this in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

A bill seeking to replace the coal blocks allocation ordinance that unveiled the NDA government's ambitious coal sector reforms was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 10, last year amid strong opposition from TMC and Left parties.

The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill 2014 was introduced by Goyal, who said the bill did not seek de-nationalisation of coal mines.

The Lok Sabha, on December 12 had passed the bill which provides for fresh auction of coal blocks de-allocated by the Supreme Court but could make no progress in the Upper House.

The government had also earlier said that it may look at other alternatives if the passage of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, faces hiccups in the Rajya Sabha.

The government later in December last year approved re-promulgation of the coal ordinance and necessary guidelines for mine allocations and said the coal-rich states stand to earn Rs 7 lakh crore over the next 30 years.