Illegal coal exporters to be jailed: Government

Warning that illegal exporters of coal will land in jail, the government today said nobody had the powers to take away India's wealth outside. 

Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Lok Sabha that any one found guilty of illegally exporting coal would attract strong penal action.

"Nobody has the power to take away even a single gram of coal outside India. They will cool their heels in prison if they try to export the country's coal wealth," he said replying to a debate on Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bills, 2010, that was passed by the House.

Referring to the alleged illegal export of coal through Haldia port in West Bengal, he said his inquiries had revealed that coal was being taken for a thermal power plant near the port town and not for export. 

"For poverty alleviation and eradication of unemployment, industries are needed, power is needed by these industries and
coal is needed to generate power. So coal is the core of government's plans to uplift common man and remove poverty,"
he said.

On the issue of illegal mining, Jaiswal tried to turn the tables on Opposition parties, saying most of the members from BJP, BSP and JD-U, who had raised the issue should realise that such activities were going on in states ruled by them.

He, however, did not name any state. 

"Members from all parties in the House are concerned over illegal mining. I am confident that we will be able to curb such activities and since it is a law and order subject, the states will have to resolve the problem," he said. 

Jaiswal said the government's policy on coal blocks was not aimed at preventing the private sector, but encouraging only serious players in the bidding process so that mining process could start soon after the award of contract. 

He said the government would consider awarding coal blocks to the public sector Coal India on a priority basis if it sent a proposal.

Jaiswal was responding to a BJP member's contention that Coal India had sought 134 blocks. 

To a BJD member's concern over dilution of state's rights over allotment of contracts in coal mining, the minister said they need worry as their rights would be fully protected.

Jaiswal said the government was seized of the issues arising out of frequent fires at abandoned coal mines in Dhanbad area of Jharkhand and the resulting damage to environment.

"We have decided to provide Rs 10,000 crore towards rehabilitation of the people of the areas where fires erupt in abandoned coal mines. Every life is precious and lakhs of people live in these areas," he said.

Jaiswal said rehabilitation of these people would be given priority and it would ensured that there was no irregularity  in the programme.

Noting that "certain problems" in the rehabilitation programme had resulted in Naxal menace and law and order problems in some states, Jaiswal blamed state governments for "carelessness and dereliction of duty".

Members in the Lok Sabha, cutting across party lines, opposed allocation of blocks of coal and other mineral to private companies saying the rich national resources should be
used judiciously rather than be frittered away.

Initiating discussion on the bill, Hansraj Ahir (BJP) alleged that coal blocks have been sold for a song by the government to private firms in spite of the fact that the natural resource was becoming more scarce in the country.

He made a strong plea for reconsidering and even cancelling the allocation of blocks to the private companies. 

The member also expressed concern over moves to allocate
135 fresh blocks in spite of the Coal India officials voicing reservations.

Contending that allocation of coal blocks to private companies was hurting job opportunities, he wanted to know the reason behind distributing blocks to private sector.

While pressing his point, the BJP member referred to nationalisation of coal mines in 1971 by then prime minister
Indira Gandhi and questioned the Congress government as to
whether her decision was "wrong".

Ahir alleged that the government had "insulted" the law enacted by Indira Gandhi.

He alleged that the government has deliberately brought the bill late as it has already effected the major allocation of blocks to the private sector.

Kishore Chandra Deo (Cong) said he was disappointed over the "limited" scope of the proposed legislation. 

Opposing allocation of mining blocks to private companies or their sale to firms abroad, he asked whether the country could afford to "fritter away" natural wealth. 

He said a National Mines and Minerals Policy should be evolved and a Commission of Inquiry ordered into illegal mining.

Deo suggested that an assessment should be made about the
quantum of the country's mineral resources which would give an
idea of how much has been mined illegally.