The coal ministry has said captive coal blocks could not be allocated to private companies at the market price of reserves. This is despite the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) recently blaming the government for extending “undue gains” worth a whopping Rs 10.6 lakh crore to companies by not allocating the blocks at market prices.

The company has so far got 500 acres while the govt claims to have acquired 2,000 acres

ALWAR: Illegal mining on Aravali hills has not only raised environmental concerns, but also resulted in huge loss of human lives in the state. As per the records made public in the state assembly recently, 40 people have lost their lives due to illegal mining in Mewat's Alwar region over a three years' period.

The police's apathetic attitude towards these deaths has also added to the sorrow of victims' family members. Several cases have come to the fore in which police did not register cases against illegal miners despite repeated requests by the victims' family members. This makes it hard to prove whether these people, mostly labourers, died in mining work.

ALWAR: The death of labourers in the illegal mines of Alwar's Arawali range and Rajsamand district on Thursday brought to the fore lies put up by the state government even before the Supreme Court.

Leases to be cancelled if firms fail to adhere to revised norms

PANJIM: The high level mining monitoring committee appointed by the State will start its visit to all 90-odd mines, ahead of the monsoons to ensure that the mining sites are not disaster prone. The mining leases will be cancelled if companies fail to adhere to the revised safety norms, which make it mandatory for mining firms to get the surface rights of the area around their mines, which is likely to be affected with mining activity.

GVK group acquired a stake in Hancock coal mines for $1.26 bn, whereas the Adani group had acquired the Galilee Basin mines

The process to grant environment clearance to Indian companies that have bought mining assests in Australia is on, Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has said. GVK group had acquired a stake in Hancock coal mines for $1.26 billion, whereas the Adani group had acquired the Galilee Basin mines in Queensland and has commenced mining exploration programme.

NEW DELHI, 16 MAY: Coal India has so far entered into pacts with 14 power plants for the supply of fossil fuel, while some have refused to sign it due to their objections to some of the clauses of

Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan is likely to use his special powers to cancel 10 mining leases issued for bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam district.

PANJIM: The sword hangs over 44 mines as the clock ticks on the report on buffer zone for wildlife sanctuaries and national park which is due to be submitted on May 31. Indications are that the government appointed committees, are likely to propose three to five kilometers as buffer zone for the sanctuaries.

Senior forest department official said that the committees, which were due to submit their report on May 12, have now sought extension till May 31.The department is expecting the report to be submitted before this deadline, the implementation, of which will be done from next mining season, beginning October.