Times Of India reported that government has not taken any decision to discontinue e auction of coal through which the world's largest coal producer Coal India Limited has earned INR 5,600 crore more than the notified price in 2011-12.

Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Rajya Sabha that “During 2011-12, the subsidiary companies of CIL have earned INR 5,600 crore more than the notified price of coal by selling coal through e-auction.”

As the government has not taken any decision to discontinue e-auction of coal, the question of coal companies incurring any loss on this account would not arise, he said replying to whether coal companies may lose Rs 6,000 crore due to cut in spot sales.

In his written reply, Mr Jaiswal said e-auction was carried under the provisions of new coal distribution policy of October 2007. He said that the purpose behind e-auction was basically to provide access to coal for such consumers who are not able to source coal through the available institutional mechanisms for reasons like seasonality of coal requirement, limited requirement of coal not warranting long term linkage etc.

Sale of coal under e-auction also provides access to consumers to procure coal of their choice and any incremental amount earned over the notified price, through e-auction, is incidental.

Source - Times Of India

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