Govt approves policy to use coal mines land for infrastructure

15 Apr 2022 CW Team

The CBA Act allows for the free and clear acquisition of coal-bearing property and vesting in government business.The policy establishes the parameters for the use of such land for energy and coal-related infrastructure.

It means that property owned by government firms like Coal India Limited (CIL) can now be leased out to private businesses for infrastructure development through joint ventures (JV) with CIL.

This unlocking of un-mineable land will also help CIL reduce its operating costs since it will be able to build coal-related infrastructure and other projects like solar plants on its territory using new business models in collaboration with the private sector.

It will make coal gasification projects viable since coal would not have to be delivered to distant locations.

The use of the already acquired property would help reduce new land acquisition and accompanying displacement and simultaneously promote local manufacturing and industry.

The cabinet also approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Manitoba Securities Commission in Canada.

It would allow Manitoban investors to register as Foreign Portfolio Investors with Sebi. Around 20 Manitoba-domiciled FPIs with a total AUC of Rs 2,665 crore are projected to gain and be able to continue investing in Indian markets.

The Cabinet also authorised the signing of an Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for decentralised domestic waste water management between the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.

It is proposed that a Management Council (MC) should be formed to oversee the execution of the MoC by establishing comprehensive collaborative activities and tracking progress.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved the continuation of the revamped centrally sponsored scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for implementation from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2026 (co-terminus with the XV Finance Commission period) to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions' governance capabilities (PRIs).

The scheme's overall financial outlay is Rs 5,911 crore, with the central government contributing Rs 3,700 crore and the states contributing Rs 2,211 crore.

Image Source

Also read: Coal India's capex grows 12% to Rs 14,834 crore in FY22

The Union Cabinet approved the policy for land acquired under the Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, so that land which is mined out or is practically unsuited for coal mining can be used for developing and establishing coal and energy related infrastructure. The CBA Act allows for the free and clear acquisition of coal-bearing property and vesting in government business.The policy establishes the parameters for the use of such land for energy and coal-related infrastructure. It means that property owned by government firms like Coal India Limited (CIL) can now be leased out to private businesses for infrastructure development through joint ventures (JV) with CIL. This unlocking of un-mineable land will also help CIL reduce its operating costs since it will be able to build coal-related infrastructure and other projects like solar plants on its territory using new business models in collaboration with the private sector. It will make coal gasification projects viable since coal would not have to be delivered to distant locations. The use of the already acquired property would help reduce new land acquisition and accompanying displacement and simultaneously promote local manufacturing and industry. The cabinet also approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Manitoba Securities Commission in Canada. It would allow Manitoban investors to register as Foreign Portfolio Investors with Sebi. Around 20 Manitoba-domiciled FPIs with a total AUC of Rs 2,665 crore are projected to gain and be able to continue investing in Indian markets. The Cabinet also authorised the signing of an Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for decentralised domestic waste water management between the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. It is proposed that a Management Council (MC) should be formed to oversee the execution of the MoC by establishing comprehensive collaborative activities and tracking progress. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved the continuation of the revamped centrally sponsored scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for implementation from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2026 (co-terminus with the XV Finance Commission period) to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions' governance capabilities (PRIs). The scheme's overall financial outlay is Rs 5,911 crore, with the central government contributing Rs 3,700 crore and the states contributing Rs 2,211 crore. Image Source Also read: Coal India's capex grows 12% to Rs 14,834 crore in FY22

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Apr 2026

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Technology

02 Apr 2026

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..