Government to eschew competitive bidding route for some coal blocks

NEW DELHI: The Coal Ministry has indicated that certain coal blocks out of 54 acreages that were tipped to be put up for competitive bidding will be awarded on a nomination basis instead.

"The Coal Ministry will allocate blocks through the government dispensation route from the lot of 54 coal blocks set aside for auction," an official in the Coal Ministry said.

However, the government has not identified the reserves to be given both through the government dispensation and competitive bidding route.

"The exercise for identifying the blocks is underway," the official said.

Last month, the Coal Ministry had said it will allocate five coal blocks to NTPC through the government dispensation route to meet the requirement of four thermal power projects.

"We have in-principle approved to allocate five coal blocks to NTPC. The identification of the coal blocks is still underway," Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal had said.

The coal blocks would be allocated to NTPC's 500-MW facility in Raebareli, UP; 1,600-MW unit at Kudgi, in Karnataka; 1,600-MW plant at Gajmara, in Orissa; and 3,960-MW project at Barethi, in Madhya Pradesh, the Coal Ministry had said.

Earlier, Jaiswal had said the proposed competitive bidding round for coal blocks will be held soon.