BJP MP seeks inquiry into Coalgate issue

A BJP MP today sought an inquiry into alleged allocation of two major coal blocks to private firms in an indication that the Opposition will again raise the issue in the winter session of Parliament.
Hansraj Ahir, MP from Chandrapur in Maharashtra, told reporters that though allotment of the two blocks - North Arkhapal Srirampur Coal Block and Ram Chandi coal block, both in Odisha- have been cancelled, the way they were alloted to private firm Setsl and JSPL was not proper and an inquiry should be held as to how they were allotted.
He alleged that the decision was taken to "benefit the two private companies" in spite of the fact that they did not have technology of Coal to Liquification (CTL). Besides he questioned the delay in holding the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), which has now cancelled 11 blocks.

Ahir claimed that Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal "did not allow the IMG to meet for almost one year since November last year and it has met only recently". He has also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the allotment of the two blocks.
He also demanded that all coal blocks alloted to private companies in the last few years should be cancelled as it has brought "huge loss" to government.
Referring to other issues of scholarships to OBC students in Maharashtra, he has written to the National OBC Commission. He alleged that the Maharashtra government was deliberately ignoring the issue of giving scholarship to OBC students, which will affect lakhs of students.

"They are ignoring the OBC students as neither the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister nor the Social Welfare Minister is an OBC," he said.