Concerns of all stakeholders will be kept in mind while deciding the future course of action on coal block allocation, a top Coal Ministry official said today.
The comment came when his reaction was sought to the Supreme Court quashing 214 coal block permits alloted to various companies since 1993.
"The concerns of all the stakeholders will be kept in mind," the official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said.
"The court has given six months for smooth transition. We will explore all options," he added.
In a major blow to the corporate sector, the Supreme Court today quashed allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks which were alloted to various companies since 1993.
It is claimed that companies have invested around Rs 2 lakh crores on these blocks.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha, saved only four blocks--one belonging to NTPC and SAIL each and two allocated to Ultra Mega Power Projects--from being cancelled.
The bench, also comprising justices Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, granted six months breathing time to mining companies to wind up their operations in coal blocks.
