An inter-ministerial panel will meet early next month to deliberate on 17 coal blocks to be allocated to public sector firms.

The Coal Ministry has received around 316 applications, including 235 from power sector with regard to 17 coal blocks to be alloted to PSU

The development came in the wake of the government's repeated announcements to make policy for mines allotment transparent.

The Coal Ministry had last month said it it has decided to offer 17 coal blocks to different state-run companies.