An inter-ministerial panel may meet this week to deliberate on the replies of 58 blocks allocatees which were recently issued notices for delaying production from mines.
The 12-member panel, which will meet for the first time since it was formed in June, comprises of representatives of various ministries including power, steel, and law amongst others.
“The inter-ministerial committee is likely to meet this week and give recommendations on de-allocation of the 58 coal block allocatees which were recently issued show cause notices,” a source privy to the development told PTI.
The recommendations given by the inter-ministerial panel would be submitted to the committee, currently chaired by Coal Additional Secretary Zohra Chatterji, which will take a final call on de-allocation of the coal mines.
The Coal Ministry began issuing show cause notices to 58 coal block allocatees in April, warning them of the cancellation of undeveloped mines.
Sasan Power, Tata Power, Hindalco, Grasim Industries, JSW, Bhushan Steel and TVNL, Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation were among the companies to whom notices were issued.
In the notices, the Coal Ministry warned the firms of cancellation of blocks if no explanation was given in 20 days about the reasons for delays in the development of blocks.
In May last year, the government had cancelled allotment of 14 coal blocks and one lignite block of firms like NTPC and DVC among others.