Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has approved a new policy for allotment of coal mines. Sources say, this will pave the way for coal block allocation through competitive bidding. The new coal blocks policy is for the private sector.

The decision assumes significance in the backdrop of controversy over alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks and ongoing CBI investigation.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the long-awaited shale gas and oil exploration programme to boost domestic output. This policy will allow National Oil Companies to carry out exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydro-carbon resources particularly shale gas and oil in their already awarded on land Petroleum Exploration License.

The CCEA also approved the proposal for implementation of the multi-sectoral programme to address the maternal and child under-nutrition in 200 high burden districts.