18 additional blocks to be put on sale in the first phase

The Supreme Court had in September cancelled the allotment of 204 mines allotted since 1993, terming them ‘arbitrary and illegal’.

The government has decided to put 18 additional coal blocks up for e-auction scheduled in February, taking the total number of coal blocks on sale in the first phase to 92 blocks.

“We will now be putting 18 more blocks up for auction in addition to the 74 announced earlier,” Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said, adding the step was taken as sufficient number of coal blocks was not available for the power sector.

Out of the 92 coal blocks to be allotted and auctioned in the first phase, 57 mines would be given to the power sector. Of the 57 blocks, 23 would be put for auction, while 23 would be considered for allotment to States, the Secretary explained.

The tender document for the auction, he said, was likely to be released on December 22. He was speaking to reporters at a workshop organised by the Federation Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The Supreme Court had in September cancelled the allotment of 204 mines allotted since 1993, terming them ‘arbitrary and illegal’.

The government had last month announced auctioning of 74 blocks in the first phase, stating that the auctions would begin on February 11 and mines would be allotted only to specified end-users. The government had also made it clear that the number of mines a company could bid would be capped to avoid monopoly.

Further, Mr. Swarup said the Coal Ministry was working an electronic platform where “we will house all the problems and then take it up with the stakeholder.” The platform should be up in 15 days.

The issues flagged on the platform will include, land as well as related R&R issues and delay in obtaining forestry and environmental clearances, among others.