Govt mulls amending rules for coal mine auctions

New Delhi: The government plans to amend the rules for auctioning of coal mines through competitive bidding, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

Emphasising that there is no shortage of coal, Goyal told the Lok Sabha that stock of the dry fuel has been going up.

Coal India's production has also increased and hope that coal imports would come down further, he said during Question Hour.

"Amendment of 'Auction by Competitive Bidding of Coal Mines Rules, 2012' is under consideration of the Government of India," the Minister said.

The amendments are being considered for permitting sale of coal since there have been changes in the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and to align with the rules under this Act.

Goyal said the changes to the 'Auction by Competitive Bidding of Coal Mines Rules, 2012' are being considered to accommodate the provisions of the proposed revised standard bidding document for Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) framed by the Power Ministry to "facilitate allotment of coal blocks for UMPPs at an early date".