IMG may meet next month to decide fate of 33 coal mines

58 mines were issued show cause notices for failure to develop blocks within stipulated timeline

The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on coal blocks is now likely to meet early next month instead of October-end to decide the fate of 33 coal blocks allocated to public sector firms which have been issued notices for delay in production.

"The IMG meeting on coal blocks which was scheduled for October 30 and 31 has been carried forward to November 5-6 as the Coal Ministry is busy with a lot of other engagements this week," an official in the Coal Ministry said.

The IMG will make recommendations with regard to 13 coal mines alloted to public sector firms like Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corp and Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp on November 5. While the recommendations with regard to remaining 20 mines given to PSUs like Nalco and MMTC will be made on November 6, the official added.

Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal had recently said IMG has already reviewed coal blocks given to the private companies.

The IMG has concluded the scrutiny of 31 coal blocks allotted to 51 private firms.

Earlier, Coal Secretary S K Srivastava had conveyed it to Public Accounts Committee that the IMG would finalise the recommendations with regard to 33 mines allocated to public sector firms by October 20.

Last month, the government had accepted the recommendations of the IMG, which had suggested de-allocation of 13 mines and deduction of bank guarantees of 14 allottees.

A total of 58 mines were issued show cause notices for their failure to develop blocks within stipulated timeline.

The government had formed the IMG in July to review the progress of coal blocks allocated to companies for captive use.