Coal 'bungling' to be probed

PATNA, OCT. 7. The Vigilance department will probe the supply of coal to `non-existent' industrial units by different coal companies in Bihar, says Union Coal and Mines Minister Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan.

Mr. Paswan told UNI that one of the major factors contributing to losses being accumulated by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) was the supply of coal at cheaper prices to `fictitious' industrial units in the State through the linkage (direct supply) facility.

He said his ministry had asked the Bihar Government to inform within two months about the number of industrial units in the State.

``Though a majority of industrial units in the State have closed down, supply of coal at cheaper prices to these `units' continues, causing losses to different coal companies,'' Mr. Paswan said.

The Union Coal and Mines Minister said the findings of the Ministry's Vigilance department would be provided to the CBI so that it could probe the matter.

He said provision of supply of coal through linkage system had been made after the recommendation of the State Government.

Mr. Paswan said preliminary reports had confirmed that the coal supplied at cheaper prices to the small industrial units was subsequently sold in Varanasi.

He said except BCCL, CCL and ECL, four subsidiaries of Coal India were earning profits.

The Minister said only 25 million tonnes of coal was extracted by the BCCL against its target of 29 million tonnes during the last financial year.

Ruling out privatisation of coal companies and retrenchment of mines workers, Mr. Paswan said a comprehensive plan had been chalked out for combating mine fire in the Jharia region of Jharkhand.

The Lok Jan Shakti Party president said the Jharkhand Chief Minister, Mr. Babu Lal Marandi, had been requested to provide land to the affected people for their rehabilitation. He said Coal India would meet expenses incurred on the rehabilitation programme.

- UNI

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