IMG to review coal blocks of companies under CBI scanner

NEW DELHI: The inter-ministerial panel on coal blocks is likely to review tomorrow the progress of around 10 mines of companies like Abhijeet Group's JAS Infrastructure and JLD Yavatmal that are under the CBI scanner.

" The Inter-Ministerial Group ( IMG) will meet tomorrow to review around 10 coal blocks which are under CBI scanner," according to a source.

"The panel will review the coal blocks allocated to the companies like JLD Yavatmal, AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd and JAS Infrastructure among others," he said.

CBI is probing alleged irregularities in the allocation of 192 coal blocks between 1993 and 2011.

It has registered three preliminary enquiries in this connection - related to allocation between 2006-09, allocation between 1993 to 2004 and allocations given to joint ventures.

So far, the agency has registered FIRs arising out of its preliminary enquiry covering allocation between 2006-09.

Intensifying the drive against firms sitting idle on allotted coal blocks, IMG had last month recommended issuing show cause notices to companies including JSPL, HZL and Ultratech for delaying production from captive mines.

The IMG had reviewed the progress of 56 coal blocks. Progress of these coal blocks was found to be unsatisfactory by the review committee last year where delays in production from the mines were attributed to the 'go/no-go' categorisation, location in wild life corridors, over-lapping of coal bearing area with CBM (Coal bed methane), among others, sources said.

After abolition of 'go/no-go' concept, these coal blocks allocatees were advised to pursue their cases with concerned authorities for environment/forest clearances, sources said.

The Coal Ministry had earlier issued notices to allocatees of 30 captive coal blocks, including NTPC, GVK Power and Monnet Ispat for failing to develop the blocks on time.

The government had formed the IMG last year to review the progress of coal blocks allocated to firms for captive use and recommend action, including deallocation.