NTPC, JSEB to get back deallocated coal blocks soon
But the firms will have to develop these blocks within two years else, the central government would take them back again.
Power producer NTPC and Jharkhand State Electricity Board will soon get back the coal blocks that were deallocated by the central government, but they will have to develop the fields within two years.
"Soon the coal blocks of NTPC and Jharkhand State Electricity board (JSEB), which were taken back by us last year, would be given back to them. But the firms will have to develop these blocks within two years else we would take them back again," Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told PTI.
The decision was taken by a committee, chaired by Additional Secretary (Ministry of Coal) Zohra Chatterji in meeting held recently, the minister added.
The Coal Ministry had cancelled allotment of 14 coal blocks and one lignite block to both public and private firms in May last year for not developing the fields within stipulated time.
Five coal blocks of NTPC which were taken back by the Coal Ministry, includes Chatti Bariatu, Chatti Bariatu (S), Kerandari, Brahmani and Chichiro Patsimal.
Last year, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde wrote to Jaiswal, seeking a review of the decision to de-allocate blocks to NTPC.
The Banhardih mine in Jharkhand, which was allocated to JSEB in 2006, was also taken back as implementation of all milestones under the project were pending.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda had last year met the Coal Minister, seeking the reversal of the ministry's decision to cancel allotment of a coal block to a state-run power utility.
The Ministry had also cancelled allotment of blocks to other companies like Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, Tenughat Vidyut Nigam and Bihar State Mineral Development Corporation.
To weed out non-serious players, the government had in 2010 issued notices to 84 coal and four lignite block allottees for not developing the same within stipulated time and sought explanation as to why blocks should not be cancelled.