To look at alternatives if coal bill not passed in Rajya Sabha: Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: The government may look at other alternatives if the passage of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill faces hiccups in the Rajya Sabha.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier this month to replace the Ordinance.

"Will look for an alternative provision if coal bill not passed in Rajya Sabha," Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said here today.

He declined to comment when asked as to what the alternative could be.

On December 12, Lok Sabha passed a bill which provides for fresh auction of 204 coal blocks de-allocated by the Supreme Court in September with the government allaying apprehensions of some parties that the legislation would lead to privatisation of the sector.

The Bill provides for "allocation of coal mines and vesting of the right, title and interest in and over the land and mine infrastructure, together with mining leases, to successful bidders and allottees through a transparent bidding process.

Members from parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress, BJD and Left demanded that the bill should be referred to the Standing Committee for a thorough scrutiny.

The Ordinance was issued in October to facilitate auctioning of the cancelled blocks and the first round would see auction of 74 blocks.