'Govt selective in cancelling coal blocks'

So far, the govt has de-allocated 10 blocks and forfeited bank guarantees of 13 firms on the basis of recommendations made by an IMG

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged the Centre was being selective in cancelling coal block allocations.

“The government is only de-allocating blocks with small reserves, but the bigger reserves that were given to private companies free of cost are not being de-allocated,” said Hansraj Ahir, BJP’s member of Parliament, who blew the lid off the block allocation scam.

So far, the government has de-allocated 10 blocks and forfeited bank guarantees of 13 companies on the basis of recommendations made by an Inter-Ministerial Group.

Coming out strongly against the IMG’s recommendations, the BJP said the government is not transparent in the process.

The government rubbished the fresh set of allegations, saying that there was no basis for doubting the decisions taken by the panel. Coal minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal said that the IMG had representation from the top officials from the centre and the states. “The allegation that some companies have been left out by the IMG is not correct,” he said.

Senior leaders of the BJP have also written a letter the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) asking it to look into the process. “We have written two letters to inter-ministerial group and CVC. We have asked CVC to start investigations in the de-allocation process,” said Ahir.

According to the BJP, all coal blocks allocated between 2004 and 2008 should be de-allocated and re-auctioned. The party had stalled the monsoon session of Parliament, demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation and also de-allocation all the coal blocks.

Senior BJP leaders pointed out that the screening committee met 14 times between 2004 and 2008 but 175 coal blocks were allocated, whereas between the committee met for 22 times during 1993- 2003 but only 41 blocks were allocated.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the coal allocation scam, has filed cases against 9 companies for misrepresenting facts before the screening committee.