Having tied itself in knots over the status of missing files related to allocation of blocks, a panicky Coal Ministry’s desperate attempts to locate them have led it to approach its Steel counterpart seeking even those files, which are related to rejection of requests for coal linkages. This is besides those files wherein recommendations were made for coal linkages by the Steel Ministry.
However, it has not served any purpose so far, as the Steel Ministry has said it only has one file pertaining to projects for which coal linkages had been recommended by it and that file is being dispatched to the Coal Ministry. “This particular file is likely to reach Coal Ministry by Friday,” official sources said.
Sources said the Coal Ministry had first asked the Steel Ministry to see if any of the seven missing files related to allocation of blocks could be at Udyog Bhavan, housing the latter’s office. In response to this, one file related to steel projects seeking coal linkages was found with the Steel Ministry.
The Steel Ministry, sources privy to the development pointed out, has expressed surprise at the Coal Ministry’s strange request given that the search is principally on for those files which are related to allocation of coal blocks to certain parties and which are under the scrutiny of the CBI. “What purpose could these documents serve,” the Steel Ministry officials wondered.
On the face of it, the Coal Ministry is playing down any amount of panic prevailing within its portals regarding the missing files even though Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal had last week issued a stern ultimatum to his top officials to search the files within 30 days.
Coal Ministry officials said that apart from searching its own offices and those of Coal India ltd (CIl), related Ministries like Steel and Power have been asked to remain alert and see if any of the missing files could be found with them. “There is clearly no need to press any panic button,” they contended.
In reality though, hectic activities can be seen in the CIl office situated in the Capital’s laxmi Nagar area, with various teams of the Coal Ministry making frenetic efforts to search the missing documents and files there.
Searches are also on at various other offices of the CIl and CMPDIl to locate the files, sources said.