Govt relaxes rules for Coal India to ease coal-bed methane extraction
The Cabinet today relaxed rules for state-owned Coal India Ltd for extraction of natural gas lying below coal seams in its blocks in a bid to quickly boost production. Till now, Coal India Ltd had to apply to oil ministry for a licence to extract coal-bed methane (CBM) from its coal blocks. Now, the world's largest coal producer does not need such a permission. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved an amendment to the November 2015 regulations issued by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas under Section 12 of the Oil Fields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 (ORD Act, 1948). "Due to this amendment relaxation is granted under the Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules 1959 (PNG Rules, 1959), to Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries for not applying for grant of licence/lease under the PNG Rules, 1959 for extraction of CBM under their Coal Bearing Areas," an official statement said. Stating that the decision is in line with .12-04-2018