Fate of 29 coal blocks likely to be decided tomorrow

"The meeting of IMG likely to be held tomorrow may finalise recommendations with regard to allotments of 29 coal blocks made to firms whose representatives were given a final chance to present their case last week," a top Coal Ministry official said.

The final decision with regard to these blocks, however, would be only taken after taking a view from the Ministry of Law as well feedback from Coal Controller on the current status of these mines, another official in the Coal Ministry said.

Besides, the IMG might also take up the cases of a few firms whose bank guarantees would be forfeited for delaying the production from mines, the top ministry official added.

The official also said the final report with regard to 29 mines allocated to private firms would be presented before the Coal Ministry. The report on the remaining 29 coal mines of the public sector firms which were issued show cause notices would be submitted to the ministry sometime later, the official said.

Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal had asked its ministry to submit the report on the 58 coal blocks which were issued show cause notices for delaying production from the mines by September 15.

The deadline of September 15 was set by the Coal Ministry in the wake of uproar over irregularities in allocation of coal blocks after CAG estimated undue benefits to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private firms on account of allocation of blocks to them without auction.