Coal news and updates

‘Govt can’t be asked to explain aggressive bids’

April 20: Even as the aggressive bids by user-industries for coal block auctions continue to raise eyebrows, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said the government should not be asked to explain if the bidders have erred in going overboard.

“You are questioning the government because someone else, if at all, erred… I am assuming that everyone who bid, did so with his eyes open. As a bureaucrat I have no business to tell you how to do your business,” Swarup said at a recent interaction with the industry in Kolkata.

“I can answer questions on behalf of the government but I can’t answer questions on behalf of the businesses,” Swarup said when asked if the aggressive bids made by end- users were justified. “I was also trying to understand as to why this happened, though I am very happy with it,” he added.