Rs 1,159.96 crore paid as land compensation by Coal India subsidiaries

Over Rs 1,100 crore has been paid as compensation by various subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL) for acquiring land in different parts of the country in 2014-15, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

Observing that a total of Rs 1,159.96 crore was paid as compensation by CIL, Goyal told Lok Sabha that Rs 840.68 crore has been paid in 2013-14 by Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, Central Coalfields Ltd, Northern Coalfields Ltd, Western Coalfields Ltd, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.

“Due to enhanced thrust of the present government on rehabilitation of displaced persons, long pending cases have been cleared and there is 38 per cent increase in payment of compensation against land in 2014-15,” he said during Question Hour.

“Physical possession of land as well as payment of compensation is a continuous process. In case of tenancy land acquired under CBA (A&D) Act 1957, payment of compensation is made before taking physical possession of land. In case of transfer of government vested land and forest land, compensation is paid during the acquisition process,” he said.

Goyal said in all the subsidiaries of CIL, employment against land has been provided as per the R&R policy of CIL 2012, except in Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd where R&R policy of Odisha state government has been considered.

“However, there is no instance of violation of norms with reference to providing compensation/ employment reported during last three years in any of the subsidiaries of CIL.