"The Tenth plan envisaged removing coal from the list of essential commodities in order to allow free sale and to withdraw Colliery Control Order 2000, along with coal control orders of state governments. The ministry of coal has agreed to remove coal from the Act," Minister of State for Coal, Dasari Narayana Rao, said.
The government has also issued Colliery Control Rules 2004, under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, he said.
Replying to another query, Rao said the Ministry has no plans to shut down loss-making units and has sought the views of finance ministry on revival packages for Eastern Coalfields and Bharat Coking Coal.
"The revival packages involve restructuring the equity of companies and other things on which the views of ministry of finance have been sought before the government decides on the measures proposed in draft rehabilitation scheme," he said.
ECL had posted a loss of Rs 326.38 crore (Rs 3.26 billion) while BCCL reported a loss of Rs 569.85 crore (Rs 5.69 billion) in 2003-04.
Rao said there was no proposal with the ministry to allow captive coal mine developers to sell surplus coal to the states for running coal companies. The government has also not allowed public sector coal companies to undertake mining in other countries, Rao said.
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