Talking a tough stance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday reportedly ruled out immediate annulment of 142 coal block allocations and said he was ready to answer any question raised by the opposition on the issue.

Intimate sources revealed that Mr. Singh conveyed his resolve about not going for immediate cancellation of the controversial coal block allocations informally to some senior ministers of the party.

The BJP-led opposition has been demanding the cancellation of all the coal block allocations, which according to the report of Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) cost the taxpayers 1.86 lakh crore.

The CAG report said that the government made the coal block allotments to private companies at throwaway prices, and that 194 of the total coal blocks were allotted on just recommendations. It further said that competitive bidding would have prevented the massive loss.

The report triggered demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the cancellation of the allotments.

Previously, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal also ruled out immediate cancellation of the coal block allocations, saying two fronts, viz. the CBI and an Inter-Ministerial Group, were probing the issue, and that the cancellation couldn’t be resorted to before the Inter-Ministerial Group tables its report, which is expected by September 15.