New Delhi: Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said the options that could be explored for these mines, after ‘re-examination’ of the bids, would include a fresh auction for those mines, allotting them to the state or giving those blocks to state-run Coal India.
The Indian government is re-examining the bids for nine coal blocks, including those where Balco emerged the top bidders, and a final decision on their fate would be taken by this weekend — amid speculation of cartelisation during their bidding process.
Swarup said, “By this week-end there would be a decision on the nine coal blocks which are being re-examined by the government.” Asked if there is a possibility that government can go for re-auctioning of these blocks, Swarup said: “Anything can happen.” There are variety of options which the government is exploring. “The government can re auction the mines, it can allot the mines to the state and it can give the blocks to Coal India,” he said.
