The Supreme Court has asked the Odisha government to recommend the Bhushan Power & Steel (BPSL) case to the Centre for grant of iron ore reserves for its 2.8 million tonne integrated steel plan

The government has so far received 36 applications from companies such as Jindal Steel and Power and Tata Steel in response to a notice inviting applications for allotment of three coal blocks on t

The Centre will consider next month Tata Steel's request seeking environment clearance to its coal mine expansion project in Jharkhand.

Supreme Court has allowed Tata Steel to continue mining activities at chromite mine in Sukinda, Odisha, till May 9.

The extension is crucial as the temporary working permit, granted in March 2013 by the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) to operate the mine, was to expire on April 12 and the application for its extension is pending with the ministry.

Jharkhand tribal villagers say their consent to operationalise coal block has been forged

In January, the Coal Ministry asked companies to show cause why coal blocks allocated to them should not be taken back for not starting production. Given the threat, companies have scrambled to get clearances in the last few months allegedly with the collusion of officials.

Govt reviewing the allocation of 61 blocks that have not started production

The inter-ministerial group, which is reviewing allocation of coal blocks, has decided to give more time to 10 companies to obtain final forest and environment clearance for the eight blocks that have not yet started production.

Coal secretary also said that since the IMG on coal blocks will be required to assess the situation with regard to grant of FC within a reasonable time period, it is considered necessary to co-opt a representative of MoEF on the panel

The coal ministry has asked the environment ministry to assess the feasibility of grant of forest clearances (stage II) with regard to 10 coal blocks allocated to companies like Hindalco, JSPL, Tata Steel and Essar Power and send its comments by this week.

Ministry will wait further before deciding on 30 others

Acting on the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), the Coal Ministry is likely to issue formal orders for cancellation of 29 captive coal blocks belonging to Hindalco, Tata Power, Jindal Steel and Power and Essar Power, among others.

The Centre may issue showcause notices to companies like SAIL, Tata Steel, Essel Mining, JSPL and OMC, which hold 75 leases where illegal mining of iron and manganese ores was found by the Shah Com

Hindalco’s Mahan coal block, along with some blocks of Tata Steel, Jindal Steel and Power and Reliance Power could be cancelled by an inter-ministerial group, which will meet on Friday. The cancellations would figure as part of the list of 61 blocks that were allocated to companies between 2005 and 2008.

Significantly, the cancellation for Mahan, if it happens, would be after it has got a go-ahead from the ministry of environment and forests recently. Aditya Birla Group company Hindalco and Ruia’s Essar have plans to develop the block jointly.