163 compensation cases for land acquisition pending in ECL:Gov

Government today said there are 163 cases in Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) where compensation has not been paid to people for acquisition of land for mining purposes due to various reasons.

"In Eastern Coalfields Ltd, there are 163 cases where compensation has not been paid as the persons were not eligible in accordance with the company's norms or cases pending Tribunal/High Court or requisite documents have not been submitted," Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said in Rajya Sabha.

Giving details of the 163 cases, the Minister said the affected areas were Mugma, Rajmahal, Kajora, Kunustoria, Pandaveswar, Salanpur, Satgram and Sodepur.

The Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) has six cases for compensation and employment.
Goyal also said that Rs 1,048 crore worth of compensation was given during 2014-15, up from Rs 761 crore in the previous year.

He said the cases relating to non-submission of documents of ownership have to be settled on receipt of the same from project-affected persons and cases of disputes could be settled as per the judgments of the Tribunal or High Court.

Goyal also said certain grievances with reference to payment of compensation and providing employment to persons whose lands were acquired for mining by the two companies have been received by those firms.
"All such grievances received have been examined and disposed of as per the prevailing policies/norms of the company," he said, adding that no such complaints have been received from other subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd.