Acting on the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), the Coal Ministry is likely to issue formal orders for cancellation of 29 captive coal blocks belonging to companies like Hindalco, Tata Power, Jindal Steel and Power and Essar Power.
However, it will wait further before taking a call on 30 other coal blocks that are presently under scrutiny. "The file has reached the table of the Coal Minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal. Orders or letters informing about the de-allocation of these blocks would be sent early coming week as the Coal Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the IMG concerning 29 blocks," a senior Coal Ministry official said.
The IMG recommended de-allocation of Chakla and Ashok Karkatta coal blocks in Jharkhand allocated to Essar Power; Tubed coal block in Jharkhand jointly allocated to Hindalco Industries and Tata Power and Gare Palma IV/6 in Chhattisgarh jointly alloted to firms like JSPL and Nalwa Sponge Iron Ltd, among others. While in the case of two coal blocks -- Kotre Basantpur and Pachmo in Jharkhand -- allocated to Tata Steel, IMG has recommended that the mines are liable to be de-allocated and the decision on the same should be taken by the government in view of the court case.
However, the Coal Ministry is yet to initiate action against the coal blocks of companies like Jayaswal Neco Ltd, Jas Infrastructure Capital Ltd, JSW Steel, JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd and Balco, among others. The IMG on coal blocks, which met for two days on February 7 and 8 reviewed the progress of development of 61 coal blocks.
