BJP MP for adoption of Madhya Pradesh model for coal allotment

The Madhya Pradesh government has allotted coal blocks to private companies with a condition that it will retain 51 per cent stake, while the remaining 49 per cent will be with the private party, he said.

Mining will be carried by out by the private party, while the state government will not only get revenue, but also royalty, Ahir said.

The Centre, which has allocated 72 blocks to 150 private parties should adopt the MP model, Ahir said here today.

Ahir also claimed that in 2006, he had written at least 15 letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks.

He said he had also written to the CVC, the CBI and the CAG over the issue.

When specifically asked, he said that he couldn't say if Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who used to be a minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was involved in the allotment process.

He said that he had questioned the propriety of the Centre, when a foreign coal block in Mozambique which was meant to go to state-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) was alloted to private parties. He said that employment would have been generated for the youth, had the block been allotted to CIL.

The CBI should arrest those involved in the scam, he said, though he did not name the names of politicians and individuals involved.