The Hindu Business Line : Mining co-operatives to become a reality

Mining co-operatives are all set to become a reality in India. While the coal sector is being opened up to private sector in a phased manner with allocation of captive mines followed by marketing rights, the Coal Ministry has initiated plans to position the co-operatives as the third player in this sector.

The Ministry has asked Coal India Ltd (CIL) to prepare a plan to promote formation of cooperatives involving local people in coal bearing areas and engage them in gainful activities by initially entrusting them with transportation and loading jobs.

In the second stage, these cooperatives can also be considered for allocation of small and isolated coal blocks, officials told Business Line.

CIL to prepare plan

The Minister of Coal, Mr Sibu Soren, on Tuesday instructed CIL to prepare the plan by this month end when it would be again taken up for further action.

In a review meeting of the functioning of CIL held in the Ministry on Tuesday, it was noted that land acquisition is posing to be the biggest hurdle in expanding CIL's mining activities because land losers are insisting employment much beyond the numbers the coal companies can accommodate.

Employment

In order to create more employment opportunities to accommodate the increasing number of employment seekers, though may not be within the company, this plan is being initiated.

Earlier, CIL had helped its ex-employees by giving them these types of transportation and loading jobs, officials said.

More Stories on : Mining & Quarrying | Co-operatives | Coal

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page