CCEA meet on 32 coal blocks inconclusive

The fate of 32 coal blocks remained undecided as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which met today, sought more time. The CCEA was expected to take a decision after the Supreme Court observation last week that 32 coal blocks were lying idle for more than stipulated time given for their development.

Sources told CNBC-TV18 that the government will look at each coal block individually before replying to the Supreme Court. On Thursday, attorney general Goolam E Vahanvati has admitted before a three-judge bench headed by Justice RM Lodha that something went wrong with the coal blocks allocation.

"We can say something has gone wrong and some correction is required to be done."

Meanwhile, the CBI has found no criminality in the allocation of about 60 coal blocks, which are likely to be taken out of the purview of its ongoing probe after taking the Supreme Court's permission. The sources said 195 coal blocks allocations are being probed out of which in 16 cases CBI has found prima facie material which indicates cheating, criminal misconduct and corruption based on which the agency has registered FIRs. However, during the analysis of nearly 60 allocations, records were found to be correct and no deviation from the laid down norms and procedures was detected.