Screening panel route flouted in coal block allocation: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said the coal ministry had allocated some blocks to companies without following the screening committee route.

BJP member of Parliament Hansraj Ahir said, “The coal ministry has informed me no screening committee meeting took place after 2008. But allocation of blocks continued even after that….The government continued to allocate blocks even after a Bill to introduce competitive bidding in allocating these was passed in September 2010.” A coal ministry official, however, told Business Standard, “The screening panel only recommends allocations on a case-to-case basis. There is a lag between the committee’s recommendation and issuing a letter of allocation...it is true no screening committee meeting for allocation of blocks was held after 2008. But no blocks were allocated after 2008.”

 

“The ministry issued 30 letters of allocation in 2009. This does not mean these blocks were allocated in 2009. These are all old cases recommended by the committee in its meeting in 2008,” he said. He also refuted the allegation that blocks were allocated after the Bill to introduce competitive bidding was passed in 2010.