Summary:
He said the allocation of coal blocks is within the domain of the Union goevrnment but the state governments do have a say. According to him, this would expedite the process of coal exploration in the country. The government would go for forward auction in tranches during October and November this year for allotment of 46 coal blocks having a reserve potential of around 100 million tonnes. After the amendment of the MMDR Act, exploration of these 46 blocks would come to fruition in four to five years and this will reduce the quantum of coal imports into India, the Coal Ministry's Joint secretary Ashis Upadhyaya. "Without the amendment of the Act, exploration from these blocks would have taken seven to eight years", he added..