Easier clearance rules for pvt coal players likely

With the agenda of expediting the development of coal blocks auctioned to private firms, the government is planning to introduce an online application form and single-window clearance for mining lease, land acquisition and other approvals. Some of the other things that the Centre wants in order to get the sector up and running include increasing the number of coal exploration agencies, improving infrastructure for coal and amending the law to speed up approvals.

“State governments’ need to take prior approval from the centre for signing mining lease with block operators after they have received environment and forest clearances from the centre delaying the process by six months to a year. This requirement will be scrapped from the MMDR Act.,” a coal ministry official told the media.