Coal Bill might face Opposition roadblock

Although the government might be confident about passage of the insurance amendment Bill, the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014, could face rough weather. The Coal Mines Bill, which replaces an ordinance, is being debated in the Lok Sabha.

While the Left parties and Trinamool Congress have been opposing the Bill, there are rumblings within the Congress against it, which is being perceived as "not transparent". Several sections within the party are mainly apprehensive of what the Left has termed "de-nationalisation" of coal mines.

This would mean that on the basis of its majority, the government could get the Bill cleared through the Lok Sabha but in the Rajya Sabha with its number deficit, the Bill cannot pass muster in its present form.

THE COAL MESS

• Left parties and the TMC have been opposing the Bill but there are rumblings within the Congress against the Bill, which is being perceived as "not transparent"
   
• The government, has a commitment to the Supreme Court, which has given it time till March 31 next year to bring in reforms in the sector

The Left and Trinamool Congress had opposed the Bill even at the introduction stage in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Congress is keeping its cards close to its chest. The Congress in the Rajya Sabha has already set up a committee of selected MPs to examine the Bill in detail to identify problematic areas, on the basis of which the party will formulate its stand.

Congress' Rajya Sabha MPs admitted the party was uncomfortable with the Bill enabling commercialisation of coal mining. "There are lots of issues. The Bill is not transparent. It is a blatant attempt to denationalise coal mining," said a senior strategist.

Also, the methods and mechanisms it proposes to introduce, such as the bidding process, are not as transparent as it is being claimed, added the Congressman. The party is convinced of the need for reforms in the sector but it feels the Bill is a cover for pushing forward the agenda of the government, which is to bring in private companies.

A leader noted it was possible that while the Bill in its present form gets through the Lok Sabha, amendments could be introduced in the Upper House if the government wants the Bill passed. It can then be sent back to the Lok Sabha again for ratification, as it was done in the case of the Lok Pal Bill.

The government doesn't have enough numbers in the Rajya Sabha. The opposition has 120 MPs. If the government fails to agree to make changes, the Bill could get stuck or even get defeated in the Upper House.

If the Modi government is keen to get its reforms agenda going without any roadblocks, it will have to play ball with the Congress and address its concerns. Unlike the insurance Bill which was the Congress' "own baby", the coal Bill is not and the party has no compulsion to see it cleared. The government, however, has a commitment to the Supreme Court, which has given it time till March 31 to bring in reforms in the sector.