CoalMin declines to study Yavatmal Energy plant location plea

The Coal Ministry has said it is not in a position to examine the request for change of location of end use plant from Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh by Yavatmal Energy Ltd in view of the pending CBI investigations.
"In connection with the investigation being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, the CBI has registered an FIR against your company in respect of Fatehpur East coal block," the Ministry said in a recent letter to the CMD of JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd.
The development of the CBI investigation is not shared with the Coal Ministry as per the directions of the Supreme Court which is monitoring the CBI Investigation, the letter said.

"It has been decided by this ministry not to process the cases of the companies against whom CBI has registered FIRs," it said adding that "in view of the pending investigation by the CBI, this ministry is not in a position to examine the representations...Of your company and dispose of the same."
Reacting to the development, the company said: "JLD has already entered into Memorandum of Understanding with the Chhattisgarh Government for setting-up the Power Project in Chhattisgarh...As the approval for change in location of the Power Plant was getting inordinately delayed, JLD was left with no other option but to approach the High Court of Delhi to seek the relief."

The Delhi High Court directed the Coal Ministry for the disposal of pending application of JLD in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, the company said.

"In response to the directives of the High Court...Ministry of Coal has communicated the company that the Ministry is not in a position to dispose of JLD's request regarding change of location of the end use plant from Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh because of two reasons," the company said.
"In view of the pending investigations by the CBI, the Ministry if not in a position to examine company's request as the Ministry has decided not to process the cases of the companies against whom CBI has registered FIRs," the company said.

JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd was allotted Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh along with four Consortium Members for meeting the part requirement of its proposed 1215 MW thermal power plant. The company's Power Plant was earlier proposed in Yavatmal District of Maharashtra.
However, in view of various constraints related to non-availability of water, rail infrastructure and land faced by the company in Yavatmal, JLD requested for change in location of the Power Plant from Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh.
Since November 2008, the company had time and again apprised all the concerned authorities about the constraints in implementation of the proposed Power Project in Maharashtra and the genuine need for relocation of the same in Chhattisgarh.

The request of the company for change in location of the End Use Plant had been recommended by Power Ministry.