Odisha yet to furnish its compliance to the Coal ministry with respect to illegal coal mining

Amid ongoing probe by the M B Shah commission of enquiry into illegal mining in Odisha, the Ministry of coal has urged the state government to take appropriate action to curb illegal coal mining. "The observations and recommendations regarding farming of specific rules by the state to prevent/control of illegal mining and also formation of the task force with regular reporting system would be relevant and applicable for the coal sector also.

A patchwork green and black — hills of glistening coal and forested flats — sprawls over 2,000 sq km in the East Jaintia Hills. The digging, splitting and sorting of coal is ceaseless, as is the coming and going of SUVs loaded with migrant labour. A fine black film covers every inch of Ladrymbai — every aspect of life in this mining town revolves around coal.

Of the 29 candidates for Meghalaya's assembly in the East Jaintia Hills, at least 13 are well known coal mine owners; two have limestone mines. In the constituency of Khliehriat, all five candidates — one each from the Congress and United Democratic Party and three independents — are coal barons.

NEW DELHI: Coal India Ltd (CIL) has gone out of its way to sign fuel supply pacts with 11 companies, including alleged Coalgate beneficiaries, even before these firms reached the qualifying milestones such as acquiring land, the state-run monopoly's internal anti-corruption watchdog has said.

In a report to the coal ministry, a copy of which is available with TOI, CIL's CVO (chief vigilance officer) Manoj Kumar said supply pacts for 5,935 mw — or one-and-a-half times of the national capital's daily requirement — have either been inked or cleared for signing in spite of "deficiencies in documents".A fuel supply agreement (FSA) holds the key to disbursal of institutional funding for power projects.

The Centre has decided to tell the Supreme Court that it is legally empowered to allocate coal blocks and is marshalling facts to make a strong case before it, a senior official said.