The Hindu : National : Make adequate funds available: House panel

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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

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National

Make adequate funds available: House panel

Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Ministry of Coal has suggested chalking out a company-wise programme for solving the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) problems on a priority basis.

The panel, in its eighth report, noted that the issue of R&R in Coal India and other coal companies had remained unresolved for a long time and it has been brought to the notice of the Committee that adequate compensation had not been paid to those who gave land to coal companies. Asking the Ministry to make adequate funds available for accomplishing rehabilitation, the panel wanted all subsidiaries of Coal India Limited and other companies should clear all the backlog of compensation cases immediately and evolve a uniform criteria for payment of compensation in future.

The Standing Committee has also pointed out that inspite despite of liberal financial assistance being provided to the Coal Conservation and Development Advisory Committee (CCDA) for sand stowing and protective works in coalfields areas, much remained to be done. The panel has expressed surprise that less than 40 per cent funds allocated for the protective works during the first three years of the Tenth Plan have been utilised by the coal companies. It has recommended that the funds earmarked for sand stowing and protective works be released and utilised in full. It has further said that Government should ensure that all the schemes approved by DDCA Committee are completed in a time-bound programme.

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