The government has decided to re-examine the bids of 5 blocks awarded in the Phase 2 of coal auctions which were held for Schedule III coal mines, sources told NDTV.
According to sources, bidding price is the reason for re-examination of these blocks as the quality of coal determines its price.
The mines being examined include Brinda & Sasai coal block that was awarded to Usha Martin at Rs 1804/tonne, Meral block in the unregulated sector which went to Trimula Industries at Rs 727/tonne, Dumri block won by Hindalco at Rs 2127/tonne, Tara block awarded to Jindal Power at Rs 126/tonne and Mandala South coal block bagged by Jaypee Cement at Rs 1852/tonne.
Earlier in the Phase 1 of coal auctions, in which schedule II blocks were auctioned, the government had questioned 3 coal blocks won by companies like Balco, Jindal Power and BS Ispat.
Sources told NDTV that decision on these 3 blocks is likely on Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the next round of auctions will start once there is a decision on the coal bill which has been referred to the select committee. As the ordinance lapses on 5th April, the government will go ahead with the next round of coal blocks auction in April.
In the two rounds of auctions so far, the government has auctioned 32 blocks with 8 being re-examined and is looking to allot 43 blocks to the states where the allocation process is expected to begin this week.
The coal auction kitty has crossed Rs 2 lakh crore mark surpassing CAG's estimate of Rs 1.86 lakh crore lost due to allocating mines without auction during the previous regimes.
Auctions were necessitated after the Supreme Court in September last year cancelled allocations of 204 blocks since 1993, saying their allocation was "arbitrary and illegal".
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