CBI must quiz Naveen in Hindalco coal block issue, says BJP

Hindalco was allotted this mine despite initial objections of Coal India and then coal secretary, P C Parekh

The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must interrogate chief minister, Naveen Patnaik for his role in recommending Talabira II coal block for Hindalco, after a court earlier this week directed that the central agency must quiz former prime minister Manmohan Singh on allocating this mine to the aluminium major.

“We have been demanding that the CBI needs to interrogate Naveen Patnaik as he had recommended the coal block in favour of the company. As former PM, Manmohan Singh will be questioned in this matter, we believe the CBI would soon interrogate Patnaik,” said K V Singhdeo, president of Odisha BJP at a press meet here. On Tuesday, a special court looking into irregularities in the allotment of coal mines between 1993 and 2010 asked the CBI to record statement of Singh over the allotment of Talabira II coal mine to Aditya Birla Group company Hindalco Industries during his prime ministership.

Hindalco was allotted this mine in Odisha in June 2005, jointly with Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLC) and Coal India subsidiary, Mahanadi Coal Limited (MCL) despite initial objections of Coal India and then coal secretary, P C Parekh. The objection was because the company was already allotted a coal mine named Talabira I in 1993 for its captive power use.

However, during a screening committee meeting to finalise the allocation, the Odisha government had supported allocation of the Talabira II mine in favour of Hindalco, saying it would mean large scale employment generation for the state as the company will use coal for its aluminium manufacturing unit.

According to existing laws, the recommendation of a state government is not final approval and it can be turned down by the Centre in case of coal mine allocation. Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) responded to BJP's demand saying they were creating unnecessary noise about the issue when all the documents related to the mines allotment has been provided to the investigating agency.

“All documents related to Talabira II is with CBI, the Supreme Court and the special court, and they can take look into it whenever they need to. I think it has become a habit of Odisha BJP to drag Naveen’s name into every issue just to defame him,” said Pratab Deb, spokesperson of BJD.