CBI seeks files on coal-to-liquid mines allotment from PlanCom

The CBI has asked Planning Commission for files pertaining to allotment of coal blocks to companies like Jindal Steel and Tata-Sasol for turning the coal into liquid fuel.

 

The agency is probing if the allocations made for the coal-to-liquid (CTL) projects were in any violation of any policy.

 

"CBI is conducting preliminary enquiry regarding the allocation of coal blocks to private companies...Including coal blocks for CTL projects.

 

"In this regard it is requested to furnish the ... files/records of your office regarding the CTL coal blocks allocated through IMG (Inter-Ministerial Group)," CBI said in a letter to Planning Commission.

 

The IMG was chaired was Planning Commission Member (Energy) Kirit S Parikh.

 

In 2009, two coal blocks were allocated for two CTL projects. The firms which were given mines are Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) and Tata Sons-Sasol joint venture.

 

The investigating agency also sought from the Planning Commission the records of the IMG headed by Parikh, application for allocation of coal blocks submitted by GAIL and GMR Infrastructure and minutes of the IMG meetings held regarding allocation of CTL blocks.

 

While Ramchandi promotion block was alloted to JSPL, North of Arkhapal Srirampur coal block was alloted to Tata Group JV.

 

The Standing Committee on Coal and Steel had recently said in a report that it has "failed to understand as to why two coal blocks for coal to liquid with an estimated explorable reserves of 3000 million tonnes was allocated to private companies by ignoring the government companies."

 

It also pulled up the IMG under Member (Energy) Planning Commission for allegedly not performing its duty honestly.

 

"Even though the blocks were cleared by the Screening Committee, the IMG should have studied the cases and cancelled the blocks alloted by the Screening Committee," the panel said.

 

The Parliamentary Committee had also recommended that the allocation of CTL blocks to two private companies may be examined by the government.