Issue notices to coal mines allocatees under CBI scanner: IMG

The inter-ministerial group on coal blocks has recommended issuing show cause notices to allocatee of mines including the one jointly given to ArcelorMittal, Sterlite Energy, Lanco and Reliance Energy, which are named in FIR registered by CBI.

 

"In cases of coal blocks, where an FIR has been registered by CBI against the allocatee or one of the allocatees of the coal block, IMG has recommended to issue show cause notices for delaying the production," a source close to the development said.

 

Rampia Rampia & Dip Side of Rampia mine jointly alloted to Sterlite Energy, GMR Energy, ArcelorMittal, Lanco Group, Navbharat Power and Reliance Energy, is among the coal blocks that have been recommended to be slapped with a show cause notice, the source added.

     

However, the coal ministry is yet to take a decision on the recommendations of the panel, the source said.

     

The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) had earlier asked the Coal Ministry to seek an opinion of the Law Ministry with regard to six mines named in FIR registered by CBI.

     

The six blocks, include Rampia & Dip Side of Rampia, Thesgora-B/Rudrapuri mine alloted to Kamal Sponge Steel & Power and Revati Cement and Bander mine alloted to AMR Iron & Steels, Century Textiles & Industries and J K Cement.

 

The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing alleged irregularities in the allocation of 192 coal blocks between 1993 and 2011.

 

The agency has registered three preliminary enquiries, which are related to allocations between 2006 and 2009, blocks awarded between 1993 and 2004, and allotments to joint ventures.

 

The government had formed the IMG last year to review the progress of coal blocks allocated to firms for captive use and recommend action, including deallocation.

 

Earlier, the IMG had recommended issuing show cause notices to allocatees of 27 coal blocks and seeking explanation for slow progress in development of 21 mines.