CoalMin seeks status report on 46 blocks from companies

The Coal Ministry has sought report on 46 coal blocks from companies, including JSPL, Hindalco, Jayaswal Neco, SAIL and NTPC by tomorrow for furnishing the current status of the mines to the Supreme Court.
The government yesterday told the Supreme Court, which is looking into the allocation of mines, that it "wants re-auction of all 218 coal blocks" while seeking its indulgence to "exempt" 40 of them which are functional and ready for the end use power plants.
"I am directed to say that this ministry is required to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court confirming details of coal blocks which have come under production along with status of linked EUPs (End Use Plants)," the Coal Ministry said in a letter dated September 1 to allocatees of 40 coal blocks which have become operational.

In another letter, it sought similar information from six companies including, NTPC, Jaiprakash Associates and Prism Cement regarding their coal blocks that are expected to begin production in FY'15.
The Ministry further said that "information supplied will form part of the affidavit to be filed by the government before Supreme Court and therefore furnishing any misleading or false information may invite penal action as per law."
The details sought by the Ministry includes, date of allotment of mines, date of grant of mining lease, coal production in the last fiscal, coal production since commencement of mining, details of linked end use plant and investment in the coal block.

The Ministry has asked for details of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd's (JSPL) Gare Palma IV/2&3 coal blocks, Jindal Power's Gare Palma IV/I mine, Jayaswal Neco Ltd's Gare Palma IV/4 coal block, Hindalco Industries Ltd's Talabira-I coal block, Sasan Power's Moher & Moher Amlori Extension and SAIL's Tasra mine, among others.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had yesterday told the Court that "Government stands by the August 25 judgement. We want re-auction of 218 coal blocks. We will be happy if we save some 40 of them which are functional or operational and ready for end use plant."
He had said there was a need for saving 40 coal blocks from "guillotine of cancellation" as uncertainty of coal availability would affect the plants, when the country is facing acute shortage of power supply.

During the hearing, Rohatgi had said that like the 40 operational mines, there are six others which are "absolutely in readiness" to be operational for end use plant and if the verdict has to be strictly followed "all have to be cancelled with one stroke of brush".