The projections of windfall revenue gains for state governments after the auction of coal mines are turning out to be a pipe dream. Coal ministry’s data shows that the revenue to Odisha from auctioned coal mines declined annually from 2015-16 to nil in 2018-19. Cumulatively since 2014-15, when the auctions were conducted, to 2019-20, the state received just Rs 51.57 crore. This amount pales against the Rs 45,630 crore that was projected to the state over 30 years, the expected life cycle of the coal mines. The only coal mine in Odisha that started operations also closed down while the rest are yet to get clearances.
There is also a lot of variation in the annual revenues accrued to states. In 2015-16, Jharkhand received Rs 133.72 crore as revenue from the auctioned coal mines
