The NTPC Chairman, Mr Arup Roy Choudhury, said on Thursday: Yes, we do need a coal regulator and auction of coal blocks may be a route (to exploit more resources).
As for NTPC, it operates in a regulated regime so cannot have windfall gains. The coal from allotted mines shall be used for electricity generation to provide power at affordable tariff to the end consumers
Electricity cost is regulated by CERC and if there are any benefits, it is passed on to the consumer. “Almost 75-80 per cent of electricity tariff is cost of fuel. Coal is our only major source of energy. Today, we should mine more and more coal,” he said.