Coal: Government sets up panel for allocation of cancelled blocks

NEW DELHI: To ensure smooth allocation of 204 cancelled coal blocks, the government has set up a high- level inter-ministerial panel that would provide advise on policy issues and interact with the industry.

The nine-member Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary Coal has members from the ministries like power, steel and law, the coal ministry said in an official communication.

It said the nominated authority created under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 is required to undertake management and reallocation of 204 coal blocks cancelled by the Supreme Court. "In discharge of duties, the Nominated Authority is required to consult Central Government on various policy matters."

It added: "The policy issues, which may come up for consideration and directions of the Central Government, would involve inputs of sectoral ministries viz power, steel and DIPP as well as concerned regulatory ministries viz. Finance (DEA), Law & Justice. Therefore it has been decided by the competent authority in this ministry to constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC)."

IMC will also interact with the industry stakeholders, industry chambers like Ficci, CII, Coal Producer Association, Steel Manufacturer Association, Cement Producers Association etc in order to ascertain their views on the procedure and methodology of auction of coal block.

The panel will also advise on "any other issue referred by the Ministry of Coal in connection with coal block allocations". In a major blow to the corporate sector, the Supreme Court had in September quashed allocation of 204 coal blocks alloted to various companies since 1993 terming it as "fatally flawed", and allowed the Centre to take over operation of 42 such blocks which are functional.