Coal news and updates

CoalMin seeks information from prior allocatees

Gearing up for coal block auction, the Coal Ministry has asked allottees of 74 mines to furnish information about their fields like environment clearance, production details and land status by 25 November.

These 74 mines are part of 204 coal bloks whose allocation to various companies since 1993 was quashed by the Supreme Court on the ground that they were done in an illegal manner by an "ad-hoc and casual" approach "without application of mind".

The government is now planning to allocate coal blocks through auction by February next.

The Ministry in a communication to prior allottees of 74 coal blocks said: "In pursuance of....the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 your are hereby directed to furnish information...to the Coal Controller's Organisation and CMD, CMPDIL...by 25th November positively."

The inputs required from allottees include copies of geological report and environment clearance and forest clearance, production details, status of land (mine and infrastructure) acquisition and details of capital investment, the letter said.

The Cabinet last month recommended promulgation of an Ordinance to facilitate e-auction of coal blocks for private companies for captive use and allot mines directly to state and central PSUs.

Later, President Pranab Mukherjee promulgated the Ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet.

Source: PTI