Coal Ministry rejects Jharkhand's plea for restoring mine allocation

New Delhi: The Coal Ministry has turned down the Jharkhand government's request to revoke deallocation of four mines which were taken back for delays in development, stating that the matter is sub-judice. The four mines — Rabodih, Patratu, Pindra-Debipur- Khaowatand and Latehar — were allocated to Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC).

Earlier, the Coal Ministry had rejected a plea of the Power Ministry for reconsidering the decision on deallocation of eight coal blocks of power producers like Essar Power, Hindalco and Tata Power. While Pindra-Debipur-Khaowatand and Latehar coal mines were alloted in 2006, Rabodih and Patratu coal blocks were alloted in 2007.

"JSMDC has filed a court case in the High Court of Jharkhand against the deallocation order and the matter is sub-judice. In view of the above it may not be possible for the ministry to consider your request," Coal Ministry said in a letter to Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraborty. The ministry further said that the inter-ministerial group (IMG) on coal blocks had in 2012 recommended deallocation of all the mines. "The recommendations of the IMG have since been considered and accepted by the government and the orders of deallocation of...coal blocks have been issued," the letter said.

The Jharkhand government had written a letter on April 7, 2014 to the coal ministry requesting it to revoke deallocation of the mines allocated to JSMDC. IMG set up to review the progress of development of captive coal blocks allotted to private companies had members from various ministries including steel and power.