The government has approved setting up an independent regulatory authority for the coal sector. The decision aimed at regulating and conserving coal resources and to benefit all stakeholders was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA, held yesterday.

Briefing the media in New Delhi this morning, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, the CCEA also approved introducing Coal Regulatory Authority Bill, 2013 in Parliament.

He said, pending passage of the Bill, a Coal Regulator will be set up through an executive order.

The CCEA approved the proposal of the Department of Health Research for setting up 10 regional, 30 state level and 120 medical college laboratories.

It also approved setting up of a multi-disciplinary research units in 80 government medical college laboratories with an estimated cost of 503.85 crore rupees during the 12th Plan period. Mr Chidambaram said, 35 units will be set up in 2013-14 and 45 in 2014-15.