The Coal Ministry today decided to deallocate a coal block allocated to Tata Steel in Jharkhand, taking the number of coal blocks cancelled in the last five days to 29.
The development follows the inter-ministerial group (IMG) on coal reviewing the progress of 61 coal blocks earlier this month.
"The IMG recommended deallocation of the coal block allocated to your company ...The recommendations of the IMG have been considered and accepted by the competent authority on February 11, 2014," the Coal ministry said in a letter to CMD of Tata Steel.
However, further action in respect of Kotre-Basantpur & Pachmo coal block is put on hold," the letter said.
In the case of another coal block in Madhya Pradesh allocated to Pushp Steel and Mining Ltd, the ministry in a letter dated February 21 to the company said that though IMG has recommended the deallocation of Brahampuri mine, "however, before issue of order, case may be examined from the legal angle by the Ministry of Coal."
The Centre had yesterday decided to cancel two more coal blocks in Jharkhand alloted to Rungta Mines and Kohinoor Steel Ltd.
Some of the coal blocks which have been deallocated since
Monday include Lohara West and Lohara Ext (E) mine alloted to Adani Power and Madhujore mine jointly allocated to Ramswarup Lohh Udyog, Adhunik Corporation, Uttam Galva Steels, Howrah Gases, Vikas Metals and Power Ltd, ACC Cement Ltd.
While in some cases the coal blocks have been "deallocated forthwith", in other cases "the action is put of hold, " the coal ministry official said.
Some of blocks where further action with regard to blocks
have been put on hold due to cases pending in the court include Palma IV/6 coal block allocated to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and Nalwa Sponge Iron Ltd, Rampia and Dip side of Rampia coal block allocated to firms like Sterlite Energy, Lanco and GMR Energy, Rajgamar Dipside (South of Pulakdih Nala) coal block jointly alloted to Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd.
