The cabinet on Wednesday decided to do away with end use restrictions to participate in coal mine auctions.
This is being viewed as a precursor for the commercial coal mining auctions that the centre plans to conduct soon. The cabinet also decided to automatically transfer environment and forest clearances for iron-ore mines being auctioned.
These relaxations were enabled through an Ordinance to introduce Amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP Act).
“The amendment to MMDR Act will allow for seamless transfer of Environment and Forest clearance in operational mines…the amendment to the CMSP Act will allow bidders that do not have plants to consume the coal to bid for mines,” Minister for Coal and Mines, Pralhad Joshi said.
