Private coal mining may get a boost; government planning to amend Act to facilitate land acquisition

The government is planning to amend the Coal Bearing Act (CBA), 1957 to allow land acquisition for commercial coal mining by private sector players. “The proposal is currently in the consultation stage in the ministry, but if the Parliament approves it, such land can be acquired under CBA and leased out to the private sector,” said M Nagaraju, joint secretary and nominated authority, ministry of coal.

The CBA currently allows special relaxations for land acquisition only to state-owned companies such as Coal India and its subsidiaries.