Govt, opposition clear decks for fast-tracking Mines, Coal bills on Friday

20 Mar 2015 Evaluate

The possibility of the current leg of the Parliament session being extended has diminished with the two sides in the Rajya Sabha reaching an understanding to fast-track the disposal of both contentious mines and minerals and the coal mines bills. Opposition on Thursday forced deferment of consideration of the contentious Mines and Minerals Bill in Rajya Sabha till Friday, arguing that mineral-bearing states had not been consulted.

It was after hour of wrangling, the government and the Opposition both resolved to dispose of the two bills. While, opposition felt that it needed time to study the select committee reports on these bills, the government offered a choice between considering (and voting on) the bills on Thursday-Friday and sitting for one week more. However, opposition contesting the second option decided to fast-track the disposal of the two bills.

If amended by the Rajya Sabha, the two bills will have to go back to the Lok Sabha. However, parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has to complete the whole exercise before the Lok Sabha concludes its sitting. The parliament session, which began on Feb 23 and would continue uptill May 8 is scheduled to a month’s recess after Friday’s business. The government wants to rush the two bills because these are designed to replace ordinance.

Government appears to have achieved breakthrough on this on account of the support it received from regional parties like BJD, TMC and AIADMK which have come around to support the twin bills because of the lure of additional resources they can generate for their states and after government accepted some of the changes they proposed.

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