Coal Ministry to look into request of Karnataka for mines allotment

NEW DELHI: The Coal Ministry today assured the Karnataka government to look into the state's request for allotment of mines for its power plants.


"The Karnataka government has applied for coal blocks for its four plants and I have given assurance to the Chief Minister that we will look into the request of the state," Jaiswal told reporters after a meeting with the new state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here.

On an earlier occasion, the Coal Ministry had assured the Karnataka government that it will consider coal allotment to the pithead plant the southern state is developing in Chhattisgarh.

Jaiswal had also said the Karnataka government's demand for coal for five power plants was not possible due to several constraints.

A couple of days back the government had said that allocation of 17 coal blocks to PSUs will be completed shortly.

"Recently, 14 coal blocks for power and three for mining have been put for offer under government dispensation route and allocation of these blocks will be completed shortly," the Coal Minister had said during a conference.

Initiating the process of allocation of coal mines, the government had last year invited proposals from PSUs for allotting blocks to them.

The development followed the government's announcements to make policy for mines allotment transparent, following CAG terming potential losses of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the exchequer on account of blocks allotment to 57 private firms without auction.