IMG reviewing coal blocks status, no cancellation now: Govt

"We have constituted the IMG, which is reviewing 58 coal blocks. It has been asked to submit its report in a time-bound manner and latest by September 15. After that we will decide," Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters here.

He added that "the (number of) coal blocks which have been reviewed and issued show-cause notices so far is 58. Of these 58, 20 are such which have been reviewed by the CAG".

The IMG, which met today, has so far sent notices to owners of 58 coal blocks, including 25 private companies, for failing to develop the mines alloted for captive use within the given time-frame.

Companies like Reliance Power, Tata Power, Hindalco, Grasim Industries, ArcelorMittal, GVK Power and MMTC figure in the list of 58 that have been issued show-cause notices.

The Coal Minister said he has not received any direction from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to expedite and complete the process by September 6.

"I have not received any such instruction," he said, while maintaining that no coal block was allocated during his tenure.

The government auditor CAG in its recent report had stated that undue benefits to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore were extended to private firms on account of allocation of 57 mines to them and part of it could have been accrued to the national exchequer.

The CBI is also probing criminality in 12 firms which were given licences under the 'fast track' category but did not commence mining. MORE