Coal news and updates

Govt seeks public suggestions on coal mine rules

November 19: The government, in a bid to be more transparent before it goes ahead with the auctioning of the 204 cancelled coal blocks, has placed the draft rules in the public domain, seeking suggestions from stakeholders.

Coal Secretary Anil Swarup, while briefing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, said the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Rules, 2014, said: these rules are proposed to be placed in the public domain in the spirit of transparency in governance, for inviting comments from the public and stake holders before they are finalized.

Swarup stated that these rules provide a detailed roadmap for auction of coal blocks and allotment to government companies by the nominated authority under the coal Ordinance. Efficient utilisation of coal assets of the country in the national interest shall be possible through these detailed rules. Swarup further said these rules will provide a sense of certainty to the business environment and enhance credibility of the process.

The draft rules provide for a process of allocation through auction and allotment; preparation of a “mine dossier” by the nominated authority for each mine, which contains the particulars of the geographical area, coal reserves, mine infrastructure, approvals, permits, etc in relation to such mines; rules on conducting of e-auction (comprising technical and financial parameters); as well as graded application fees based on geological reserves, amongst various other regulations.