Prime minister Manmohan Singh has ruled out immediate cancellation of 142 coal block allocations. Refusing to give in to the BJP’s demand, Singh said he was ready for a fight with the opposition on the issue.

The coal block allocation issue was being probed by the CBI and an Inter-Ministerial Group. The IMG which met on Monday has so far sent notices to 58 owners of coal blocks, including 25 private companies, for failing to develop mines allotted for captive use within the given time-frame. The CBI, on the other hand, is probing criminality in 12 firms which were given licences under ‘fast track’ category but did not commence mining. 

CAG in his recent report had said that undue benefits to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore were extended to private firms on account of allocation of 57 mines to them. While the government had cancelled allocation of 14 coal mines and one lignite mine to companies last year, for failing to develop blocks, why can’t it be done now?

Do you think coal block allocations should be cancelled immediately?