WBPDCL urges govt to review coal auction disqualification

West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) has written to the Centre to review the disqualification from the coal e-auction.
"We had written to the government to review it," WBPDCL managing director Durgadas Goswami told PTI.
"We have not been informed about the technical grounds on which we were disqualified. But, we guess it was due to non-payment of additional levy," he said.
The joint venture, which the state agency had formed with Emta Group, did not pay the additional levy mandated by the Supreme Court of Rs 295 per tonne. The total due was computed close to Rs 1,500 crore.

CESC, another utility, which had been qualified has cleared the Rs 996 crore levy.
WBPDCL had applied for Ardhgram, Sarasthali and Trans Damodar blocks, which would go under the hammer.
Unable to secure coal blocks, the state-owned utility could face short-term generation problems from April, WBPDCL officials said.