“Not a single coal block has been allotted without the consent of the state government. Not only this, the committee through which the coal blocks are allocated has a chief secretary-level officer from the state concerned as its member.”

“Doubts have been raised by certain quarters regarding allocation of coal blocks to private companies for captive use. The blocks were allocated on the basis of recommendation of the screening committee which had acted in an unbiased and transparent manner,” he said.