PMO asks coal ministry to fast-track reallocation of coal blocks to CIL
27 Jun 2012
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the coal ministry to fast-track the process of taking back the coal blocks that had not been developed and giving the deallocated coalmines to Coal India (CIL).
A PTI report quoted an official from the coal ministry privy to the development as saying that the PMO has sought to expedite the process of coal blocks de-allocation so as to give them to Coal India.
The PMO has also called on CIL to appoint mine developers and operators (MDOs) to start production from the de-allocated coal blocks without delay, according to the official.
The coal ministry had recently allotted 116 mines to CIL for expansion to help it boost production capacity amid the PSU taking flak for coal shortage across the country.
Though CIL had asked for 138 mines, the coal major was asked to recast its plans by the coal ministry.
Since CIL is a government-owned company, the coal ministry has the right to allocate mines to the CIL.