No reservation of coal blocks for SCCL: Minister

HYDERABAD: In a decision that might turn into a major controversy, the Central government has admitted to offering four coal blocks in Telangana under e-auction, while making it clear that there was no proposal to reserve them to Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL).Union Minister for Coal Prahlad Joshi, on Thursday, in Lok Sabha, said that if the reservation of blocks in favour of SCCL is done, it would become a precedent for others in future.

In a reply to a question by Congress MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy, he said that the four coal blocks (Kalyan Khani Block-VI, Koyagudem Block-III, Sathupalli Block-III and Shravanpalli) located in Telangana have been included in e-auction under Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, after following the due process. He explained that the decision has been taken in pursuance of the recommendations of the High-Level Committee, constituted by NITI Aayog.