Coal news and updates

Doubts over state agencies’ participation in future auctions

October 20: State agencies which face cancellation of coal blocks allocated to them through the state dispensation route are facing uncertainty over their eligibility to take part in the proposed auction of coal blocks in the future.

“We were allocated the blocks through the state dispensation route. But now those blocks have been cancelled and we are not sure if we will be allowed to take part in the auction,” an official from a state agency told ICMW.

This is so because the state dispensation route was declared by the court as “violative” of the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973 as well as the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, he said.

“Unless there is any declaration from the court or the government in this regard, we are in the dark if state agencies will be found eligible to take part in the auctions,” he added.