CBI to seek explanation from Odisha govt officials

CBI is likely to seek an explanation from the Odisha government officials on the rationale behind supporting Hindalco's bid for Talabira II coal block even though the company was rejected by the Screening Committee.
CBI sources said they would investigate all the aspects of the case before preparing a final report and a clarification would be sought from Odisha government soon.
They said that based on the documents received from the Prime Minister's Office, it is becoming clear that the recommendation received from the Odisha Chief Minister, supporting Hindalco for Talabira coal blocks, was crucial in reversal of the earlier decision where the company's application was rejected.

CBI sources said they would be examining officials of the Odisha government who had processed the file related to the letter as well as those who gave inputs on the subject.
After rejection of the company's bid for Talabira coal blocks by the Screening Committee, the Prime Minister had received a letter dated August 17, 2005 from Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik on the allotment of Talabira-II to Hindalco.
"The CM's letter mentioned that the state government had assigned topmost priority to the allocation of Talabira-II to Hindalco and had strongly supported the case in the Steering Committee meeting," the PMO had said in a statement.

"To imply that our Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, managed to overturn the decision of the Screening Committee, is preposterous," a statement from Hindalco had said refuting the allegations levelled in the CBI FIR.
Patnaik's letter mentioned that aluminium plants should get higher priority over independent power plants as they generate more employment, create more wealth for the country and add to the growth of the manufacturing sector directly.