Opp flashes Coal Ministry memo, Cong downplays issue

The communication dated September 10/11, released by JD(U) President Sharad Yadav to media today, said, "the IMG had noted that there is no mechanism to verify the correctness of data furnished by the allotees except in the cases where power plants monitored by Central Electrical Authority are the end use plants."

The memo noted the Chartered Accountant certificate and physical progress report by the companies was taken on record.

Yadav alleged that the government was not serious in curtailing and controlling corruption and added that the Opposition will seek to corner the government unitedly on the issue of irregularities in coal block allocation, when the Winter session of Parliament begins on November 21.

However, Congress said that the IMG's ambit of probe is limited but if it feels that more investigation is is needed, it can also recommend it to the government.

"IMG was constituted with a simple mandate. IMG was told to find out, after verification of documents, the reasons why some coal companies are unnecessarily delaying in starting mining despite being allocated the coal blocks long back.

"If IMG has said that it does not have the wherewithal to verify all data and if the coal ministry and the government feel that there is a need for field verification, they can do it separately. IMG's ambit of probe is limited," party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit told reporters here.

The memo said, "Representatives of Ministry of Steel and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion also mentioned that they do not have agencies for monitoring the progress of the end-use plants.

"As such, the self certification by allotees and progress furnished by Coal Controller is to form the basis of review and recommendations by the IMG." (MORE)