New Delhi Notwithstanding the CAG stance favouring the auction route for allocation of natural resources, power companies such as NTPC, Tata Power, Rpower and Jindal Power might get another set of captive coal blocks without having to go through the bidding process.

The new rule on coal block auctions finalised by the coal ministry proposes to carve out a portion of the country’s coal reserves for the power sector that would be offered to companies through state-run corporations. Those companies that have been awarded a power project on the basis of tariff-based competitive bidding would be eligible for this exclusive allocation, official sources said.