Faced with a demand from major
coal producing States such as Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Madhya
Pradesh, the Centre is considering royalty on ad-valorem basis.
A study group, set up by the
Ministry of Coal, will recommend revision of royalty rates on coal and lignite.
Coal Ministry officials said the study group had already collected
views/comments from the stakeholders concerned. The new royalty rates would be
notified by the government after examining the group's recommendations.
On the issue of hurrying up green
clearances, Coal Minister Sripakash Jaiswal has once again urged Environment
and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan to accelerate the environmental
clearances for various coal projects.
The Coal Ministry had already
asked the Environment Ministry to lift restrictions on coal expansion projects
in seven coalfields.
In 2010-11, 17 coal projects were
affected due to imposition of moratorium in several industrial clusters. As on
date, 50 projects are awaiting environment approvals.
Source: The Hindu
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