BS reported that power major NTPC has expressed hope of getting back three out of its five de allocated mines from the government this month.

Mr Arup Roy Choudhury CMD of NTPC said that “We may get these mines this month.”

The Coal Ministry last year had deallocated five NTPC mines; Chatti Bariatu, Chatti Bariatu, Kerandari, Brahmani and Chichiro Patsimal in Jharkhand following the power firm's failure to develop these within the stipulated time frame.

Earlier this year, the Coal Ministry had also said that in principle it had given three deallocated coal blocks Chatti Bariatu, Chatti Bariatu, Kerandari back to NTPC. However till date there is no written communication in this regard to NTPC.

The remaining two of the five de allocated coal blocks of the state run PSU Brahmani and Chichiro Patsimal were recently allocated to Coal India Limited. The ministry has asked CIL to appoint mine developers to begin the production from the blocks at the earliest.

Both these blocks were allocated to the power PSU in January 2006 to be jointly operated by 50:50 JV between NTPC and CIL. Last year, the coal ministry had cancelled the allotment of 14 coal blocks and one lignite block to six PSUs including NTPC and 3 private firms for failing to develop mines.

The decision followed recommendations by a coal ministry panel that reviewed progress made by steel, power, cement and other firms in developing 88 coal and lignite blocks allotted for captive use.

Source - Business Standard.com

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