The govt on Monday announced that it has received 69 applications for allotment of 36 coal mines to the state-owned companies with NTPC vying for nine mines, highest among applicants, reports fe Bureau in New Delhi.
Of the blocks on offer, except for one block that has been earmarked for the steel sector, the rest of the blocks are to be given to power utilities. Gare Palma sector III block in Chattisgarh, with nine applications, has emerged as the most attractive coal block for public sector entities. The technical committee will whet the application and its recommendation will be forwarded to the government by February 16. The government will publish the final list of allotments a week from receiving the recommendations. The government had earlier said that more blocks would be set aside for allotment to PSUs if the requirement arose in the future. Among the interesting trends observed in list of applicants, Nalco, an aluminum manufacturer and Singreni Colliery, a state-owned coal miner have also applied for five coal blocks meant for power sector. Additionally, Barjora block in West Bengal failed to receive any application for allotment.
