Law Ministry against platform for sale of captive coal

NEW DELHI: Disagreeing with the Chawla panel report on natural resources, the law ministry has opined that regulations do not permit setting up of a platform for selling of surplus coal by private captive miners.

The law ministry said companies cannot sell surplus captive fuel through a platform, proposed to to be maintained by Coal India.

The committee's report on eight natural resources, including coal, had suggested formation of a trading platform, to be owned by CIL. The surplus coal from captive mines could be sold to the platform for onward sale to registered users.

The coal ministry, too, held the view that creation of a platform is not in line with the current law.

The committee had also suggested competitive bidding for coal blocks and making public the minutes of the meeting of the Standing Linkage Committee (Long Term) pertaining to allocation decisions on coal.