The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2008

This proposed legislation allows competitive bidding by steel, power and iron companies for coal mining blocks. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2008 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on October 17, 2008. The Bill seeks to allow the state government to grant a prospecting licence or mining lease for coal and lignite to private companies through auction by competitive bidding. The companies that can bid should be engaged in production of iron and steel, general of power and washing of coal obtained from mines.