Govt dragging feet on coal block cancellation: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today accused the government of dragging its feet on the coal allocation controversy and said it was not cancelling all the blocks which have delayed production or which have been allotted against the rules.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the government of dragging its feet on the coal allocation controversy and said it was not cancelling all the blocks which have delayed production or which have been allotted against the rules.

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BJP MP Hansraj Ahir, who has been instrumental in the party's campaign against coal block allotments, said there was a "scam" in the cancellation of the blocks.

"Though most of the companies have not developed the mines nor started mining, their allotment has not been cancelled," he said.

Ahir said the coal ministry and the inter-ministerial group (IMG) have the right to cancel the coal block allocations but have not done so.

"The attempt by the government to cancel the allotments through IMG is only window dressing. IMG is not being allowed to work sincerely. The government has the right to cancel allocations where production has not begun in the time limit or where allocations have been made against the rules. If the allocations are not cancelled, people will not forgive the government," he said.

Informed sources said the BJP is likely to renew its thrust on the coal allocation controversy in the run up to assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.