The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill was tabled and passed in the Lok Sabha on 10th-12th December, 2014. Prayas (Energy Group)'s critique of this Bill was published in the Economic Times edition of 17th December 2014, based on the attached article. It points out some problems with the bill such as the manner in which it has enabled commercial mining and the potential for complications from provisions to permit power companies that have won tariff-based bids to also bid for coal blocks, and suggests that a more considered and comprehensive approach may be appropriate for the coal sector.