Government decides not to cancel 19 coal blocks

NEW DELHI: The government has decided not cancel 19 coal blocks awarded to Arcelor Mittal, GVK, CESC, Visa Power, Monnet Isptat, JSPL and Tata Power among others after the inter-ministerial group review of their progress.

This week the government reviewed 51 blocks and decided to cancel 32 of them on the basis of milestones achieved. The decision has been put on hold for many blocks where the companies had obtained interim orders from various courts.

The companies whose blocks the government wants to deallocate include Tata Steel, Ultratech, HZL, Essar Power, Hindalco, Adani Power, Sterlite, GMR, Arcelor Mittal, JSPL, ACC Cements and Reliance Energy. The coal ministry reviewed the blocks where production has not started.