Coal news and updates

8 coal blocks told to get Stage-II FC by November 2014

March 6: The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), which met to review the status of 10 coal blocks allocated to private companies but which did not obtain Stage-II Forest Clearance (FC), has decided that allocatees of 8 blocks may be advised to get such clearance by November 2014, failing which their coal blocks may be de-allocated.

The IMG decided on a universal time line for these blocks but made allowances keeping the general elections in mind, whereby the Model Code of Conduct would kick in and slow down the administrative process. However, it felt a nine-month period would be "reasonable".

The other two had already obtained the FC-Stage II clearance. These were the Durgapur II/Sarya coal block allocated to D B Power, and Mahan block awarded to Essar Power and HINDALCO.

Eight blocks which have been told to get FC-Stage II by Nov 2014 are:

1) Moitra: Jayaswal Neco

2) Ganeshpur: Tata Steel & Adhunik Thermal Energy

3 and 4) Brinda and Sisai: Abhijeet Infrastructure

5) Lohari: Usha Martin

6) Dumri: Nilanchal Iron & Power and Bajrang Ispat

7) Jitpur: JSPL

8) Rohne: JSW Steel, Bhushan Power & Steel and Jai Balaji Industries