107 applicants for 43 coal mines for allocation to PSUs

The Coal Ministry on Sunday received 107 applications from state-run undertakings like NTPC, SAIL and the Damodar Valley Corp for allocation of 43 coal blocks whose earlier allotments were cancelled by the apex court.

"(A total of) 107 applications were received for 43 coal blocks for allocation to government entities," Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said in a tweet.

The Palma II mine in Chhattisgarh got nine applications, the highest for a single block.

"The allotment process for 43 coal mines to government companies started on February 18. The maximum number of applications has been received for Gare Palma sector II coal mine," the coal ministry said in a release here.

"Online applications and offline supporting documents were opened here today (Sunday) in the presence of representatives of applicants," it added.

The companies which have applied for Gare Palma II mine, in Chhattisgarh, include NTPC, Singareni Collieries, the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp and the Gujarat State Electricity Corp. The block was earlier alloted to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Co and the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board.

"One application each was received in respect of 7 package of nine mines," the statement said.

Of the 43 mines the government is now allotting to public sector undertakings, 42 are for the power sector and one is for the steel sector.