L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 745
177
*** Scheme for Control of Price and Distribution**
of Coal, etc.
577. Mr. Amarendra Nath Chattopadhyaya : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please stale if it is a fact that a scheme for control of distribution and price control of coal and for encouragement of increase of output has been made ? If so, will the Honourable Member be pleased to state and lay on the table as well a statement giving detail of the policy forming the background of this scheme ?
(b) Is it a scheme which does away with the middlemen between colliery owners and actual consumers ? If so, what are the advantages accruing in consequence of the scheme, and the disadvantages created by the scheme to the present coal suppliers ?
(c) Why should a bonus be paid to collieries for excess raising of coal, or why should a commission of 0-4-0 be paid by collieries and consumers to any middleman when collieries can supply to consumers directly ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. A statement@ regarding the scheme, is placed on the table. The scheme consists of five parts : (a) an estimation of the monthly output of each colliery, (b) the formation of a Coal Control Board to advise Government on the working of the scheme, (c) the distribution of all output by Government at fixed prices, (d) the encouragement of production by the grant of bonuses on increased output free of Excess Profits Tax, and (c) control of mining operations. The intention behind the scheme is (i) to ensure that all the coal available is properly distributed at fair prices to the consumers who require it and (ii) to afford every encouragement to the maximum production of coal.
(b) No. The second part of the question docs not arise.
(c) The bonus is paid to encourage production. The amount of the commission has not been fixed. It will be fixed by the Government of India. A middleman will only be employed it a colliery and consumers mutually agree that he should be employed.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1944,22nd March 1944, p. 1393.
@ Statement omitted. —Ed.