Government allocates 14 coal blocks to Central,state firms

The coal ministry,in a statement,said the allocations have been made on the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee following due deliberations at every stage with the applicant state governments and states,where the coal blocks are located,apart from the power ministry and the Central Electricity Authority.

These coal block allocations to government-sector firms will lead to an investment of more than Rs 1,60,000 crore in the power sector,with consequential multiplier effect in other sectors of the economy, the coal ministry said in the statement. The allotments have been made for the first time since 2008.

Of the four coal blocks allocated to NTPC,two each are in Chhattisgarh and Orissa,which have estimated reserves of 1,995 MT of coal.