Centre asks coal block allottees to give land and mine details

The Centre has asked coal block allottees, whose licences were quashed by the Supreme Court, to provide land and mine infrastructure details by November 10 for the purpose of compensation under the Ordinance which has got the Presidential approval.
"There is a provision of valuation of compensation for payment to prior allottees for land and mine infrastructure ... It is requested to provide details of land and mine infrastructure...Within a fortnight i.E by November 10 positively," Coal Ministry said in a letter to prior allottees of the block.
The Supreme Court had last month quashed the allotment of 214 coal mines to various companies since 1993 on the ground that they were done in an illegal manner by an "ad-hoc and casual" approach "without application of mind".

The Ministry said that the there is a provision for compensation to such allottees under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014, which got Presidential on October 21.
It has sought the details of land and mines infrastructure in the given proforma duly certified by authorised signatories of the companies or organisations.
"Wherever a coal block has been allocated jointly to multiple allottees, the said information may be furnished by the 'leader' allottee or joint venture companies of the allottees, as the case may be, under intimation to other co-allottees/JV partners," it said.
The Ministry made it clear that in case no information is received, it would be presumed that there has been no expenditure towards land and infrastructure.

The Ordinance has made it clear that all firms, which had their coal blocks cancelled by the Supreme Court, barring those convicted for offences related to mines allotment, can bid in the e-auction after paying additional levy, says the Ordinance on coal mines.