GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Coal

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION N0.3265
TO BE ANSWERED ON MAY 7, 2012
Coal Governance and Regulation Authority

1. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR 

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)   Whether it is a fact that an expert committee of the Ministry had, in the recent past; recommended setting up of a Coal Governance and Regulation Authority for the development of coal resources and other issues;

(b)   If so, the details thereof; and

(c)    What action Government has taken on this recommendation of the expert committee?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL
(SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)

(a) & (b) Yes Sir, the report of the Sankar Committee, set up to suggest a road map for coal sector reforms has recommended that, considering the large number of new and small entrants from the private and State level public sector units that are likely to play a significant role in coal production in the Coming years, a Coal Regulatory Authority, which would have powers to comprehensively handle coal resource development, pricing and regulation of its extraction and use, may be set up by the Government.

(c): The Cabinet Note along with the draft Coal Regulatory Authority Bill, 2012 for setting up a coal regulatory authority has been prepared and submitted to the Cabinet for its approval.