He added that the bill will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament. An independent regulator will be brought in the coal sector for more transparency, said the minister. “Along with transparency and participation of private players, we need alternative technology for mining to meet the challenges and demands of coal production,” said Jaiswal.

Coal India Limited chairman Partha S Bhattachrjee said that 216 coal blocks have been identified in the country with a reserve of 48 billion tonnes. Of these, 138 will be retained by Coal India Limited, a PSU and world’s largest coal producing company, and the rest will be awarded through competitive bidding.

“If we have to grow by more than 7 per cent, we have to build strategic partnerships with overseas countries to import coal at cheaper rates. We are already in talks with companies and something concrete will emerge in a year,” said Bhattacharjee.

Charges against ECL result of improper information
“Any blame on the Eastern Coalfields Limited can be ascertained only after a proper inquiry and adequate steps are being taken in the matter,” said the Coal India Limited chief. The accusations are a result of lack of information among people, said Bhattacharjee. He brushed aside any danger due to frequent fires in the Jamuria coal mines in Burdwan district saying no labourer is reported to have died in ay of the fire accidents.

Coal India to offer shares to those whose land is acquired
Coal India Limited, a Navratna company, will have to acquire 50,000 hectares a year to meet its target of producing 520 million tonnes by 2011, company’s chairman Patha S Bhattacharjee said in Kolkata on Sunday on the 34th anniversary of the company.

CIL has proposed to offer shares to those who would lose land in CIL’s land acquisition. Bhaskar Chatterjee, secretary, department of public enterprise, said that the rural development ministry is looking into the recommendations made by Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for the New Resettlement and Rehabilitation bill, which proposes the setting up of a special fast track land acquisition court to facilitate CIL’s land acquisition.

Chatterjee added that the Centre is likely to bring Steel Authority of India Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, ONGC Ltd and NTPC Ltd under the Maharatna status, expected to be set up as a new standard above Navaratna from next month.