<div>Companies that win the captive coal mines in the auction route would be allowed to swap the coal with other companies and even divert their coal to their other power plants under the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Coal ahead of the auction.<br /><br />The Coal Ministry on Tuesday (18 November) released draft guidelines for allocation of 74 coal blocks.<br /><br />The clause has been included to avoid the controversy that surrounded the coal mines, named Kerandari B&C in Jharkhand. The government had allowed the R-power, the allottee company for running the Sasan UMPP to divert its coal to another group plant. The decision was challenged by Tata Power in the HC and was also questioned by the Comptroller & Auditor general of India which said that allowing diversion of coal to another power plant after awarding the mine will lead to a windfall gain ot the company.<br /><br />Under the new bidding rules, the government has given flexibility to the companies to divert their coal to other power plants with prior notice to the government,” said Anil Swarup, Coal Secretary.<br /><br />The government is yet come up with the floor price of mines that are to be auctioned and aan expert group is working on the subject. The government is also planning to have a cap on the maximum number of mines that a company can bid for in the auctions.<br /><br />The due date for coal auction is February 11. The Ministry plans to complete technical process of allotment by March 3, 2015, and issue letter of award by March 16. <br /><br />In September 2014, the Supreme Court had cancelled 214 coal blocks allocated since 1993, saying the blocks had been given out in an ad-hoc and casual manner. <br /><br />After the order, the NDA government moved an ordinance that allows auction of these blocks. In the first phase the government plans to auction only 34 blocks.<br /><br />neeraj@businessworld,in<br /><span class="gI"><span class="go">neeraj.epiphany@gmail.com<span><br />@neerajthakur2<br /></span></span></span><br /> </div>
