CoalMin notifies evaluation criteria to govt firms

The Inter-Ministerial Panel set up to look into coal block allocations to government firms today came out with pre-determined evaluation criteria that include taking into account allotees' track record of developing the mines given to them. "The Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted...to consider the applications received from the government companies has decided the...predetermined evaluation criteria for allotment of coal blocks for specified end use," a Coal Ministry document said.

Also read: Notification soon to invite PSUs for coal block allocations
    
The criteria include progress of the development of mines given in the past, the coal demand-supply gap of a state, the location of the plants among others, the document said. The Coal ministry also said that it would shortly publish notice inviting applications for the blocks for government firms.
    
A couple of days back the Coal Ministry had informed the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that it would soon issue notification inviting offers from the public sector for allocation of identified coal blocks.
    
The Coal Ministry had in May identified 54 mines for allocation. Of these, 16 are earmarked for government firms, 16 for power sector and 22 for allocation through auction route.
    
Soon after its formation, the inter-ministerial panel met for the first time last week to discuss the mechanism for allotting coal mines to public sector firms. The 14-member panel, headed by Coal Secretary A K Srivastava, has representatives from Power, Steel, Law & Justice and Planning Commission, among others, the Coal Ministry had earlier said.