Several power utilities and other agencies, which have received coal blocks for captive mining purpose, have sought the Centre?s intervention for resolution of issues coming in the way of development of the mines.
The Centre has so far allotted 123 coal blocks for captive use. Of the total 123 blocks, 68, with 18,847 million tonne geological reserves, have been allotted togovernment companies. And, 55 blocks with 5,878 million tonne reserves have been allotted to private companies.
So far, production has commenced in 11 blocks and by the end of current fiscal, production is expected to start in another 27 blocks.
The utilities and agencies have called for an adoption of a single-window approach for granting clearances and permissions, identification of rail/road corridors, identification of non-coal bearing corridors for creation of infrastructure facilities, creation of advance forests and agricultural land and formation of local area development fund by applying levy on each tonne of coal produced.
They have also made a strong pitch for providing infrastructure status to the coal industry.
The utilities and agencies have said that in order to reduce the input cost of coal, infrastructure status should be accorded to the industry so as to grant the tax exemption under section 80 IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
According to sources, there are many prevalent resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policies, which include the National R&R policy, R&R policy of Orissa government and a draft R&R policy for Jharkhand.
?These policies differ from state to state. Project affected people (PAPs) make attempt to seek best on each aspect based on available policies and the utilities and agencies are at a loss to convince PAPs that any given policy is a package in itself and each element cannot be seen in isolation. There is a need to formulate a unified R&R policy which will be applicable to all states,? sources noted.
The sources said that the proposed unified policy should include options like phased mine closure whereby a regulatory framework seeking phased mine closure with provision to restore land to the extent possible, to its original land use pattern may need due consideration.
Hiring of land for mining purpose and offering post-mining access to the PAPs on the reclaimed land should be incorporated in the policy. Stakeholders in association with state authorities could negotiate the compensation package with the PAPs and the payment of compensation amount could be bifurcated in a manner which, if so desired by the PAPs could generate some monthly income.
