Jaitley cites 8-yr delay in bidding

In a fresh offensive, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the CAG’s discovery of arbitrary allocation of 142 coal blocks was primarily on the ground that, after a decision was taken to switch over to the competitive bidding system, it took the Centre eight years to implement the said decision.

In a fresh offensive, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the CAG’s discovery of arbitrary allocation of 142 coal blocks was primarily on the ground that, after a decision was taken to switch over to the competitive bidding system, it took the Centre eight years to implement the said decision.

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During these eight year, 142 coal blocks were allocated to private players, most of whom were traders and not actual users. Since the screening committee mechanism didn’t realise the actual value of the coal blocks a monumental loss has been suffered by the exchequer, he said in an article released by the BJP.

The delay, Jaitley said, was on account of an objection raised by the PMO, an incorrect opinion given by the law ministry, inordinate delay in drafting an amendment to the law and an inexplicable delay in implementing the amended law. “Each of the reasons does not appear to be bonafide.”