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Expressing confidence that the Bill to replace coal ordinance will be passed in the ongoing session of Parliament, Union Minister Mr Piyush Goyal promised to significantly reduce the woes in the sector in the next 8 to 9 months.
Mr Goyal said that "I am quite confident that coal ordinance (Bill) is a reality waiting to happen in the next few days and we will be able to resolve the sectoral problems within the next 8-9 months significantly."
The ordinance was necessitated after the Supreme Court quashed allotment of 204 blocks terming the allocation as arbitrary and illegal.
He said that Lok Sabha will be passing the Bill in the next few days, but avoided a direct answer on its fate in Rajya Sabha where treasury benches do not have necessary numbers.
He added that "The Lok Sabha will clear it in the next few days, the Rajya Sabha, from whatever sense I get from the people, is certainly understanding that the power sector woes need to be resolved."
Mr Goyal said that "We are committed to the reform agenda. Any route which we have to take (will be taken)."
To end the uncertainty around the coal sector, which has seen a slew of controversies over allocations in the recent past, the Government had last month moved in with an ordinance which seeks to make the process transparent by stressing on auctioning of the blocks. The ordinance needs to be replaced by an Act after getting the Bill passed by both houses.
He said that his ministry has a budgetary commitment of USD 10 billion from the Government for the overhaul needed in the transmission and distribution in the power sector.
He also promised captains of the industry that the state-run CIL will be increasing its yearly output growth to 16% in the next 5 years from the current rate of growth of 1% to 1.5%.
Ms Nirmal Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister, said that the Government is "watching" the developments in the fledgling e-commerce space and the way the companies, which have raised billions of dollars in venture investments, are working.
On the Government's flagship 'Make in India' initiative, Ms Sitharaman said that there has been a very encouraging response but the developments are yet to play out on the ground.
When asked about the complex trade negotiations and if she ever feared India getting isolated at a forum like the WTO, Sitharaman replied in the negative. She said that "We were wondering how long it will take" to reach a deal."
Source – Outlook India
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Mr Modi govt has plans to privatise coal sector - Mrs Sonia
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Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, said that PM Mr Narendra Modi has plans to privatise the coal sector to benefit a few industrialists at the cost of the people.
Mrs Gandhi said that "The Congress nationalised the coal sector to give benefits to the people of the state while the BJP government has planned to privatise it to extend benefits to a select few industrialists."
Addressing a poll meeting here in support of her candidate from Jugsalai (SC) Dulal Bhuyan, Gandhi further alleged that the Modi government harbours plans to "weaken" the Right to Information Act, MGNREGA and Land Acquisition Act.
She said that the previous UPA government enacted the acts in the interest of tribals and dalits.
Flaying Modi on the tribal issue, she added the BJP does exactly the opposite to what it says. Gujarat has 8% tribal population, but a majority of them were displaced because of the state government's acquisition of land to extend benefit to capitalists.
Mrs Gandhi appealed to the people to give the Congress a majority this time as the BJP-led governments had "looted" Jharkhand while promising development in the mineral-rich state if voted to power.
She added that "We are committed to serve the interests of the tribals and others. We need your support by giving the Congress majority."
Source – Outlook India
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