GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Coal 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.278
ANSWERED ON APRIL 27, 2015 

QUESTION
Independent Regulator for Coal Sector

278. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state; 

(a)   whether Government, in its proposed legislation on coal blockallocation, has stated that Government shall appoint an officer not belowthe rank of Joint Secretary to Government of India to be theCommissioner of payments and given the Government promises oftransparency and good governance in resource allocation, whether itproposes to set up an independent regulator for the coal sector; 

(b)   if so, the details thereof and the roadmap for the same; and 

(c)    if not, the reasons therefor? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL,
POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A provision has been made in Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act,2015 to appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to theGovernment of India to be the Commissioner of Payments. Accordingly, theCentral Government has appointed Coal Controller as Commissioner of Paymentson 11.11.2014. 

After detailed consultations with various stake holders as well asconcerned Ministries/Departments, the Coal Regulatory Authority Bill, 2013 wasapproved by the competent authority on 27.06.2013 and the same was introducedin the Lok Sabha on 13.12.2013, to regulate and conserve resources in the coalsector, protect the interest of consumers and producers of coal and for matter connected therewith. 

The Coal Regulatory Authority Bill, 2013 that was introduced in the LokSabha has lapsed with the dissolution of the 15^th Lok Sabha on 18^thMay, 2014.The proposal for re-introducing the same in the Lok Sabha is under considerationfor further inter-ministerial consultations.