Talking to the media after addressing a seminar on “Indian coal sector: issues and prospects” here on Monday, he said this would become law once the new mining policy was finalised. When asked for his views on this issue, he said, “We are ready.”
The seminar was organised by the Merchants Chamber of Commerce.
He said that either 26 per cent of the profits or 10 per cent of the royalty, whichever is more, would have to be given every year to people who gave their lands for projects. The new policy is now under the Empowered Group of Ministers and is likely to go to the Cabinet within a month after which it will be placed before Parliament.
He said that while imports of coal were now necessary on account of quality as well as quantity, both for imports and handling domestic coal logistics, a major upgradation of transportation facilities were needed.