Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Consultant to Assess Extent of illegal Mining
The Coal India Limited (CIL) has floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) for selection of a consultant to assess the extent of illegal mining in the lease-hold areas of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) & Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) on 30.4.2012. No response has been received to the above mentioned EOI. Subsequently, in view of their past association with study of illegal mining of coal, CIL has requested Xavier Labour Research Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur and Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad for undertaking the study of illegal mining of coal. Both have given their consent to take up the study. This was informed by Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State in the Ministry of Coal while replying a written question in Lok Sabha today.

Regarding coal reforms, the Minister said that the Draft bill, 2012 for setting up of a Coal Regulatory Authority was submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat on 30.3.2012. The same was considered by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 10.5.2012 and decided to refer the issue to a Group of Ministers (GOM) before introduction in Parliament. The first meeting of GOM was held on 25.7.2012 under the Chairmanship of the then Minister of Home Affairs. The GOM has now been reconstituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Finance, the Minister added. 

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