Delay in introducing competitive bidding had rendered the sale process between 2004 and 2009

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Friday accused the government of allocating dozens of coal blocks at a fraction of their market price, costing the exchequer potential revenues of around $33.3 billion. The Bharatiya Janata Party leapt on the CAG report to put fresh pressure on the beleaguered government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding an immediate explanation.