Ranchi, Oct.

Last week, Sriprakash Jaiswal said files were yet to reach him

The Coal Ministry has not acted upon the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for de-allocating six additional coal blocks and deduct bank guarantee in the case of seven companies. Although the IMG had submitted its final recommendations relating to the treatment of 29 coal blocks allotted to private parties, who were issued show cause notices, the Coal Ministry, under Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, has failed to initiate further action in pending cases

The coal ministry on Tuesday approved the deallocation of captive blocks held by SKS Ispat and Bhushan Steel, based on the recommendations of an inter-ministerial group (IMG) reviewing progress on the blocks. At a meeting on Tuesday, the panel also recommended deallocating a block being developed by Bihar Sponge.

SKS Ispat’s Rawanwara North block and Bhushan Steel’s New Patrapara block, deallocated on Tuesday by Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, together hold reserves of 1,216 mt. SKS Ispat was recently in news after its name figured in the alleged allocation scam. Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay’s brother Sudhir Kant Sahay is an executive director in the company.

Then power minister Sushilkumar Shinde pushed for Bhushan Energy getting 50% of the reserves

Naveen Jindal-promoted Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and Gagan Sponge Iron got the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in 2007, despite Sushilkumar Shinde, then power minister, pushing the case of Bhushan Energy for the right to 50 per cent of the reserves. Shinde’s recommendations were sent to none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The takeover bids by three steelmakers to acquire Orissa Sponge have been revived after a threeyear lull.

Agency to seek info from coal block allottees and those who lost out; roles of state governments also to be looked into

The CBI has set up 14 teams for “detailed investigations” into possible criminal misconduct in the allocation of 64 coal blocks during 2006-09, and allegations of their misuse by allottees.

Says sector severely wanting in pollution & regulatory compliance

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-government organisation based here and promoting sustainable development, today exposed major inefficiencies in the performance of India’s iron and steel sector. In a detailed rating, which took two years to compile, of the country’s 21 top steel makers, it found a general inefficiency in resource usage, widespread pollution and violation of environmental norms, among other deficiencies.