The steel ministry has called for the auctioning of all unused coking coal mines in the country to steel makers in view of the paucity of the fuel, triggering sharp reactions from Coal India Ltd.

In its revised draft National Steel Policy 2012, the steel ministry has proposed that Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, which is the custodian and operator of coking coal mines, should be de-merged from parent firm CIL and its idle mines should be offered to home-grown integrated steel plants for commercial exploitation, with suitable terms and conditions.