Serve explanatory memos for slow progress of coal mines:IMG

Intensifying its drive against firms sitting idle on mines, the Inter-Ministerial Group has recommended serving explanatory memos to allocatees of 21 captive coal blocks, including companies like CIL, NTPC, Tata Steel and Reliance Power for slow progress of the mines.

"It was recommended to call for the explanation for slow progress in development of coal blocks," said the minutes of the IMG meeting held under the Chairmanship of Coal Additional Secretary A K Dubey.

The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) also suggested seeking explanation from firms like JSW Steel, Power Finance Corporation, Essar Power, Hindalco Industries, Bhushan Steel, SKS Ispat, among others, for slow development of the mines allocated to them for captive use, the minutes said.

"The reply to the explanatory memos will be placed before the IMG and the allocatees would be given an opportunity to present their case before the IMG," the minutes of the meeting said.

The Coal Ministry had earlier issued notices to allocatees of 30 captive coal blocks, including NTPC, GVK Power and Monnet Ispat for failing to develop the blocks on time.

The IMG had also recently reviewed the progress of all coal blocks under the CBI scanner in the coal allocation scam.