Coal, minerals auction bill may sail through RS

The NDA government may manage to pass two more reform bills to allow auction of coal and other minerals in the Rajya Sabha with two select committees submitting their reports amid opposition from the Congress and Left parties.

While the report on Coal Mines (Special Provision) Bill did not recommend any changes in the bill as passed by the Lok Sabha, the committee on Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill sought an amendment providing for setting up of district mineral foundation to address concerns of the local population.

Both the bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha and are now awaiting Rajya Sabha's assent. Once the Mines and Minerals Bill with amendment is passed, it will have to go back to the Lok Sabha again to get the nod for the changes. The two bills seek to replace ordinances promulgated in December, which would lapse if not enacted before April 5.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has decided to keep the option of extending the first leg of the Budget session by two days in case there is a delay in the clearance of bills by Parliament. After the passage of the bill paving the way for 49 per cent FDI in the insurance sector, the clearance of these two bills will bring relief to the government.  However, the government will have to work hard on the Opposition to make them accept the amendment bill on land acquisition on which almost the entire opposition is fighting in one voice.

The government managers are confident of passage of these bills in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority as it has managed to dilute the Opposition of the TMC, SP, BJD, AIADMK and the BSP. Only the Congress, CPM, DMK and the JD(U) MPs have given dissent notes to the reports.

As soon as the report was tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress protested with Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad saying that the government was rushing through the bills. The Congress wanted the committee to table the reports only in the first week of the second leg of the Budget session starting April 20. Agitated Congress and Left MPs also forced Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.