After having received aggressive bids for 18 coal blocks meant for power and steel sectors, the Government has received an unprecedented 107 applications from major State-owned entities like National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) among others, for 43 reserves which are to be directly allotted to Government firms. Apart from public sector undertakings (PSUs), electricity boards of various states like Chhattisgarh and West Bengal as well as those of power starved states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have also applied for these blocks.
The Gare Palma Sector II mine in Chhattisgarh got nine applications, the highest for a single block. "The allotment process for 43 coal mines to Government companies started on February 18. Maximum number of applications has been received for Gare Palma sector II coal mine," an official release said. The companies which have applied for Gare Palma II mine in Chhattisgarh, include NTPC, Singareni Collieries Company ltd, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation.
The coal block was earlier alloted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Co and Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board. "One application each was received in respect of 7 package of nine mines," the statement said. The Government had earlier invited applications for 36 coal blocks for allotment but later decided to add more mines. The government is now allotting 43 mines to PSUs. Of the 43 mines, 42 are for power sector and one is for steel sector.