Lok Sabha Question No. 4449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Leasing of Coal Bearing Areas
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Smt. Himadri Singh, Shri Kali Charan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4449

ANSWERED ON- 20/08/2025

## Leasing of Coal Bearing Areas

4449. Smt. Himadri Singh: Shri Kali Charan Singh:

Will the Minster of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether land acquired under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 can  be  leased  to  other  entities  including  private  entities,  Central  Public  Sector  Undertakings (CPSUs) and State Government including State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs);
- (b) if so, the details of categories of land eligible for leasing;
- (c) the purposes for which the leased land can be used;
- (d) the number of cases of land acquisition pending in South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Shahdol Lok Sabha Constituency of Madhya Pradesh; and
- (e) whether the process of providing payment and employment expedited to land dependents in lieu of their land acquisition and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)   Policy guidelines, dated 22.04.2022 have been issued to facilitate grant of land acquired under Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (CBA Act) on lease by the landowning Public-Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to other Central Public Sector Undertakings, State Governments, including its PSUs, and private entities for development of coal infrastructure and other development activities without change in ownership of the lands.
- (b) The Policy guidelines are applicable only for the leasing of such lands acquired under the CBA Act, which are no longer suitable or economically viable for coal mining, or lands from which coal has been mined out/de-coaled and such lands have been reclaimed.
- (c) As per Policy guidelines dated 22.04.2022, lands will be considered for leasing out for the following coal infrastructure and development activities:
- i. to set up Coal Washeries
- ii. to set up Conveyor System
- iii. to establish Coal Handling Plants
- iv. to construct Railway Sidings
- v. Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Project Affected Families (PAFs) due to acquisition of land under the CBA Act, 1957 or other land acquisition laws
- vi. to set up thermal and renewable power projects
- vii. to set up and provide for coal development related infrastructure including afforestation, hospitals, project office, etc.
- viii. to provide Right of Way
- ix. Coal gasification and coal to chemical plants
- x. Coal bed methane (CBM) extraction and
- xi. to set up or provide for energy related infrastructure.
- (d)  There  are 04  cases  of  land  acquisition  pending under  CBA  Act,  1957  in  South  Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Shahdol Lok Sabha Constituency.
- (e)  The payment of legitimate compensation and the employment of eligible land dependents in lieu of their land acquisition are expedited whenever proper land records and documents are made available by tenants. The disputed cases are referred to Tribunals constituted under CBA Act, 1957, and the amount due against the parcel of land in such cases is deposited before the Tribunal.

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