These stations — both in the public and private sector — would not be dependent on the virtual monopoly that Coal India presently enjoys for their supplies of coal.

It was because of pressure from the Left that the PM had stayed clear from pushing forward amendment in the Coal Nationalisation Act that would end Coal India’s monopoly. At a meeting of the Energy Coordination Committee last year, he had said there was need for a “greater consensus” on the matter.

However, in the order cleared by the PM today, as many as 15 coal blocks would be given to the private sector for developing power projects and an additional three coal blocks would be given to the ultra mega power projects (UMPP), where each power venture would have a minimum capacity of 4,000 MW.

Ever since JMM leader Shibu Soren left the coal ministry, the PM has, for a greater part of the UPA government’s tenure, held this portfolio and has directly spearheaded reforms in this sector. Dasari Narayana Rao is the Minister of State for Coal.

What is interesting about the PM’s clearance today is that until today, roughly 80 coal blocks were allocated to the private sector. But today, in all, 30 coal blocks have been de-reserved from CIL’s ambit. While 12 are for other PSUs, 15 are for the private sector while three are for UMPPs. While one of these UMPPs is in Chhattisgarh, the other two are in Orissa and Jharkhand.

The identified blocks are in Rajmahal, Raniganj, Birbhum, North Karanpura, South Karanpura, Wardha valley, Mand Raigarh, Ib river and Talcher Coal fields.

After Brajesh, Venkaiah says n-deal must be done but with national interest in mind

MUMBAI: On the day The Indian Express reported that Brajesh Mishra, National Security Advisor in the BJP-led NDA government, has said he would let the Indo-US nuclear deal go ahead if he is convinced that the country’s strategic weapons programme is safe and intact, BJP leader Venkaiah Nadu said “the deal must be done” but it has to be “in national interest”. Criticising the Left for being anti-US and pro-China, Naidu said the BJP was not “anti-America” and “we want good relations with America”. Naidu’s remarks came a day after US Ambassador David C Mulford met Leader of Opposition L K Advani in New Delhi in an attempt to reach out to parties opposed to the deal.