Coal auction: 6-member panel to determine technical eligibility

The auction will be held between February 14-22

Government will constitute a panel to determine technical eligibility of bidders for coal mines in the upcoming auction.

"It has been decided to constitute a technical evaluation committee for determining technical eligibility of bidders in respect of e-auction of schedule-1 mines," an official memorandum said.

The six-member panel will be headed by State Vigilance Commissioner, West Bengal, K S Ramasubban. It will have members from Central Electricity Authority, Power Ministry and National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology, Steel Ministry, among others.

The auction would be held between February 14-22.

The government will auction 46 coal blocks to private companies.

Under the schedule II (producing mines) category, 23 blocks will be put on offer. This and another set of 23 mines will be auctioned between February 25 and March 5 under the Schedule III (ready to produce mines) category.

The Coal Ministry has already started the process for allocation of 36 mines to PSUs.

Of the 36 blocks listed by the government, 35 will go to power PSUs while the remaining one has been earmarked for a steel PSU.