Coal cos blame procedures for delay

Majority of the private sector firms, called by the Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) to explain the delays in developing coal blocks, said delayed land acquisition norms and forest clearances hindered commencement of production on time.

The private players also alleged that they were being “singled out” by the government, whose own companies too were involved.

As many as 58 firms, majority of which are from the public sector, face cancellation of coal blocks allotted to them for norms violation.

Ten private sector firms including the Monnet Ispat & Energy, Wani Coalfields and Usha Martin, Neelachal Iron & Steel, Jharkhand Ispat, Jayaswal Neco, were among those called on Thursday to explain the delay in starting production.

Monnet Ispat’s Chairman and Managing Director Sandeep Jajodia said after the meeting that the tedious process of land acquisition, obtaining forest and environment clearance and implementing rehabilitation measures were responsible for the delay.

Sources present at the meeting said progress in some of the of the coal blocks, like the Moitra and Chitrapur blocks, were found satisfactory.

The ministerial committee had sent show cause notices to at least 25 allottees for the delay in developing the mines. Eight of them, including Congress MP Naveen Jindal, whose firm JSPL is also under the scanner, has been called for the hearing on Friday.

Earlier, while talking to reporters at an industry event, Jindal said allegations were made against the private sector for narrow political gains. “It is most unfortunate,” he said. He also held the media responsible for playing up financial gains by the private sector.

Meanwhile, graft activist Arvind Kejriwal alleged on Thursday that the companies which were raided on Tuesday in connection with the coal-scam were tipped off in advance to enable them to destroy all evidence against them.  However, the Congress has refuted the charge.

“We have all along maintained that the CBI probe was eyewash.  We have come to know the companies which were raided on Tuesday in connection with the coal mines  allotment scam were tipped off in advance so that they could destroy all evidence against them,” said India Against Corruption in a statement.