Times of India reported that Indian coal minister Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal allocated 35 coal blocks without clearance from the screening committee since 2009.
Mr Hansraj Ahir, a member of the Parliamentary Standing committee on coal and steel, said, no meeting of the screening committee has been held since 2008, and the coal ministry thereby not only bypassed the auction option, but also departed from the existing system of allocation through the screening committee.
Mr Ahir said, "The last screening committee meeting was held in 2008. But the government cleared 35 blocks after that. This clearly smacks of a major irregularity. I have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard, but so far I have not got any response from him."
Mr Ahir charged “On the very day Jaiswal took over, he allocated four coal blocks to private parties without any recommendation from the screening committee. The next day he allocated three more blocks. In total, he has allocated 35 blocks bypassing the screening committee. Jaiswal even allocated four blocks after the MMDR Amendment Bill was passed on August 21, 2010. This is a blatantly criminal act.”
As per ToI report, the companies that were alloted 35 coal blocks include:
ACC Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Adhunik Corporation Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Adhunik Thermal Energy Ltd, Ganeshpur
Akaltara Power Ltd, Pindrakhi
Akaltara Power Ltd, Puta Porogia
AMR Iron & Steels Pvt Ltd, Bander
API Ispat & Powertech Pvt Ltd, Rajgamar
Bhushan Steel Ltd, Andal East
CG Sponge, Rajgamar
CIL (in JV) : Vijay central
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, Khappa 7 Extension
Gujarat Ambuja Cement Lrd, Dahegaon/Makardhokra
Himachal EMTA Power Ltd, Gourangdih ABC
Howrah Gases Ltd, Moira Madhujore
IST Steel & Power Ltd, Dahegaon/Makardhokara
Jai Balaji Industried Ltd, Andal East
Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, Urtan North
Jindal Steel and Power : Ramchandi Promotion Block
JK Cement Lrd, Bander
JSW Steel Ltd, Gourangdih ABC
Lafarge India Pvt Ltd, Dahegaon/Makardhokara
Monet Ispat and Energy Ltd, Rajgamar Dipside
Monet Ispat and Energy Ltd, Urtan North
Ramswarup Lohh Udyog Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Rashmi Cement Ltd, Andal East
Rathi Udyog Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Rughta Mines Ltd, Mednira
Sakhigopal Integrated Power co Ltd, Bankhui
SKS Ispat : Vijay central
Sunflag Iron Steel Ltd, Khappa & Extension
Tata Steel Ltd, Ganeshpur
Topworth Steel Pvt Ltd, Rajgamar Dipside
Uttam Galva Steels Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Vikas Metals & Power Ltd, Moira Madhujore
Soon after the CAG report on coal block allocation was tabled in parliament, Mr Jaiswal had claimed that allocations were made by the screening committee, which consisted of officials from seven ministries, including forest and railways, besides coal.
It was Ahir's complaint to the Central Vigilance Commissioner which formed the basis of a CBI probe into the coal scam.
Source - Times of India
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