States’ procrastinating tactics responsible for delays in coalmines development

States’ procrastinating tactics responsible for delays in coalmines developmentOfficials as a majority of coal companies blamed state governments' procrastinating tactics for delays in the development of coalmines.

The union government is considering annulment of coal blocks allotted to as many as fifty-eight companies as these companies failed to develop the mines within the prescribed timeframe. These companies were recently called by the Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) to explain the reason behind the long delays in coalmines development.

Most companies told the IMG that they could not develop the coalmines in time because of the procrastinating tactics of the state government officials, which allegedly led to tardiness in giving the required clearances.

People familiar with the situation said the companies complained about the several obstacles at the state levels, such as environment clearances, acquisition of land, and corruption in the state government wings.

Monnet Ispat's chairman and managing director Sandeep Jajodia said, "It's a combination of various things --land acquisition, forest clearance, environment clearance, rehabilitation. It is a very very tedious process."

Monnet Ispat, Neelachal Iron & Steel, Jayaswal Neco, Jharkhand Ispat and Wani Coalfields were among the companies that were called by the IMG to explain the delay in commencement of production.

The investigating agency CBI has already filed five FIRs on the notorious coal blocks allocation scandal, including against some unnamed state government officials who were instrumental in giving various clearances to some firms of questionable reputation.