CoalMin seeks status report on captive blocks from firms

Having already issued a warning to coal block allottees that have failed to develop mines awarded to them in a timely fashion, the government has now asked these firms to furnish a status report on progress made on these delayed projects in the July-September quarter.

"You are requested to send detailed information for the quarter ending September, 2011, in respect of allocated coal/lignite blocks and associated end-use projects, along with the reasons for delays in implementation of the coal/lignite project, to this office by September 30," the Coal Ministry said on its website.

In May, the coal ministry took a decision to deallocate 14 coal blocks and one lignite block and issued warnings in respect to 29 coal and three lignite mine allottees, asking the concerned companies to commence production in time.

The companies whose coal blocks were deallocated include NTPC, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, Bhatia International, Shree Bhaidyanath Ayurved Bhavan, Jharkhand State Electricity Board, Damodar Valley Corporation and Gondawana Ispat Ltd, among others.

Warning letters were also issued to firms like NTPC, Utkal Coal, Damodar Valley Corporation, Jindal Steel and Power, warning them to either begin production from the blocks or be stripped of their mining rights.