Government pins hope on TMC, BJD for passage of coal, mines bills in RS

NEW DELHI: The government plans to defy opposition from Congress and Left to seek passage of coal and mines and mineral bills with support of regional parties in Rajya Sabha on Thursday . On a day when Congress alleged that their concerns on the two bills were not accommodated, the government flashed its resolve to get the two legislations cleared by the Rajya Sabha by getting them listed as part of the agenda for Thursday.

Congress, which was represented on the select committee, said on Wednesday that it remains opposed to the bills since all their reservations were not taken on board. Confirming the leadership's decision to oppose, sources said the party plans to showcase its opposition to the two bills as another evidence of its pro-poor intent.

Passage of the twin bills has become an imperative for the government for political considerations as well as reasons to do with economy .Sources in the government said passage of the coal bill was an imperative to provide for the auction of 204 coal mines -vital for power generation needs -whose allocation was scrapped by the Su preme Court.

The mines and mineral bill also provides for auction of mines and has been described as an important measure to prevent “crony capitalism“ in the exploration of mineral wealth.

Although BJP does not have a majority in Rajya Sabha, the party hopes to win the day with the support of regional parties like Trinamool Congress and BJD who stand to gain from higher royalty from coal and minerals extracted from their jurisdictions and others like SP, BSP, AIADMK and others, who, unlike in the case of land bill, don't see much political profit in thwarting the government in this instance.

Passage of the twin legislations may also help relieve the government of the pressure to re-promulgate the land acquisition ordinance despite opposition from most political parties and the risk of being painted as anti-farmer.

Amid protests by Congress MPs, RS select committees on the mines and minerals bill and the coal mines bill presented their report on Wednesday , approving the two bills without recommending any change. Claiming that the government had not taken on board the concerns of stakeholders, Congress MPs trooped into the well of the House forcing a 10-minute adjournment.

The 19-member panel on the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 that provides for allocating coal mines through auction referred the bill to the House for passage without any change.