31 coal block licenses may be revoked for poor work progress

18 Mar 2011 Evaluate

Power & Steel, Hindalco and 21 other firms for their failure to make required progress several years after allotment. A review committee led by additional secretary (coal) has recommended de-allocation of these blocks. These would be allotted to Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries. The committee has submitted its recommendations to coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal.

The ministry is likely to take a call on the issue after the ongoing budget session. Most of the mines were allocated as far back in 2003 and 2004. The companies have either failed to develop them or have not reached the necessary milestones. The defaulters' list has names such as MMTC, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and Electrosteel Castings.

As per the guidelines, an opencast mine should become operational within 36 months of award, while for underground mines the time limit is 48 months. An additional six months is allowed if the block is in the forest area. The review committee has proposed cancellation of award of six blocks - Chattibariatu, Chattibariatu (South), Kerandari, Talaipalli, Dulanga and Brahman Chichiro Patsimal -- citing slow progress made by NTPC. It has also recommended warnings to the state-run firm on Pakri Barwadih block, where land acquisition is still pending.

The committee has also suggested invoking of bank guarantees submitted by seven companies and warnings to 33 firms such as Arcelor Mittal, Reliance Power, Lanco Infratech , Monnet Ispat, Sterlite Industries and GVK Power for sitting idle on coal blocks. The government has awarded 207 coal blocks till date for captive use by power, steel, and cement projects. Of these only 26 are in production. The ministry is peeved at the slow progress as only 30 million tonne of coal was extracted from captive blocks in 2009-10 as against a target of 81 million tonne.

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