The government has initiated the evaluation process for 43 mines to be allocated to state run companies and CPSUs. In total 29 applicants, including SAIL, NTPC, Neyveli Lignite, Singareni Collieries, Goa Industrial Corporation and electricity undertakings of states like Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab among others are in the race to grab these mines. Of the 43 mines, 42 are reserved for power sector and one is for steel sector.
The government has reconstituted the high level inter-ministerial panel with slight modifications to ensure smooth auction and allotment of 204 cancelled coal blocks. Further, government is meeting up chief secretaries of concerned states in order to facilitate smooth transfer of rights and title etc in these coal mines to successful allottees. Mines under production fall under schedule II category, while those ready-to-produce fall under schedule III category.
Notably, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup had earlier this month received 107 applications from various applicants for 43 coal blocks. Among all, Palma Gare Palma Sector II mine in Chhattisgarh has secured nine applications, which is the highest for single block and the companies which applied for this block included the likes of NTPC, Singareni Collieries Company, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation.
The government had earlier invited applications for 36 coal blocks for allotment but later decided to add more mines, in all allotting 43 mines to PSUs.