The government will take some more time to auction coal blocks under new rules because a few parameters, such as the reserve price of the blocks, are yet to be decided.

The Coal Ministry confirmed that delay, and said it the pending parameters are being discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

A senior Coal Ministry official handling the process of allocation said, "The issues are being discussed with the Finance Ministry. It would take some more time."

Previously, the government announced a deadline of April 30 for the first round of coal blocks' auction under new rules.

The Coal Ministry official, however, did not announce a precise time line for the completion of the first set of coal blocks' allocation.

The government has plans to allocate a total of 17 coal mines to union and state public-sector undertakings under Auction by Competitive Bidding of Coal Mines Rules, 2012. These blocks have estimated 8.5bn tones of coal reserves.

Nearly, 235 companies from power sector and 38 from other sectors have applied for these coal blocks.

Many industry watchers believe that the Government has delayed the allocation as it is skeptical that the new coal block allocation could also face the risk of parliamentary and judicial reviews.