New Delhi: The government is set to revolutionize the land acquisition process for coal mining by launching a dedicated portal, addressing a major challenge hindering India’s coal production efforts.
The upcoming coal ministry portal, named ‘Coal Land Acquisition and Management Portal (CLAMP)’, will streamline and digitize the entire land acquisition process, from approvals to compensation disbursal for displaced individuals.
“The introduction of CLAMP will usher in a new era of digitization for land acquisition in the coal sector. This portal will enhance the submission, processing, and approval of land acquisition proposals online,” stated one of the insiders familiar with the project.
Moreover, the portal will also facilitate the processing of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) benefits, encompassing monetary compensation and relocation of affected individuals.
Another source revealed that the inspiration for transitioning to a web portal-based system was drawn from the successful ‘BhoomiRashi’ portal under the road ministry, which expedited land acquisition processes for road construction projects.
‘Aim is to bring ease, transparency’
“In addition to streamlining processes, our aim with CLAMP is to ensure transparency. The portal will provide comprehensive visibility into the status of displaced individuals in each village and their compensation details,” emphasized the second source.
Land acquisition, displacement, and rehabilitation have long been contentious issues in public discourse.
In fiscal years 2018-22, state-owned Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries acquired 82,122 hectares of land, as per data released by the coal ministry in April 2021.
With the deadline for phasing out fossil fuels by 2070 looming, the government is ramping up efforts to boost coal production and enhance compensation for affected communities.
The introduction of a centralized portal becomes crucial as private players have entered the mining sector since 2020, poised to enhance coal output in the country. The ministry recently proposed revised coal mining guidelines focusing on a “just transition” strategy, encompassing support for affected workers, community initiatives, environmental measures, and policy reforms.
These guidelines suggest flexibility for minor mining plan modifications, emphasizing major changes require approval. Other proposed features include calendar plan flexibility, drone surveys, and comprehensive compliance reports for a five-year mining plan.
The ministry also assessed the development of the National Coal Mines Safety Report Portal, aiming for near-real-time accident reporting and efficient incident management.
Queries to the coal ministry remained unanswered at the time of publication.
