Centre clears coal block auction bill

The government cleared a bill on coal block auctions to replace an ordinance that was promulgated to begin auction of coal mines that were cancelled by the Supreme Court.

The bill to replace the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 is likely to be brought before Parliament during the ongoing winter session. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the bill, sources said.

The Supreme Court had in September cancelled allocation of 204 coal blocks. The Ministry of Coal through an ordinance started the process of auctioning of at least 74 operational or ready-to-operate blocks with the target of allocating them by March, well before the deadline set by Supreme Court for companies operating the mines to wind up operations.