Yet Another Scam: Coal Scam
Bharatiya Janata Party demands an immediate Supreme Court monitored enquiry and a special audit by CAG, into the Coal Scam worth 85,000 crores of rupees in the allotment of 73 coal blocks to 143 Private parties. This worst Coal Scam happened in four years from 2006 – 2009. The Government introduced the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill in 2006, which proposed auction in place of free allotment on First-Cum-First-Served-User basis. The rush followed and the Government which should have stopped the allotments till the successful passage of the Bill instead surreptitiously gifted coal blocks to the private parties in the interregnum. The Bill was finally cleared by the Parliament in 2010. But, during these four years, 73 coal blocks were allotted to 143 Pvt. Companies, with 17 Billion Metric Tonnes (BMT) of reserves worth Rs. 51 Lakh Crores were allotted. 51 companies were allotted coal blocks in 2006, 19 companies in 2007, 41 companies in 2008 and 32 companies in 2009. The going rate, as alleged by the business circle, is fifty rupees per metric tonne. Thus, more than Rs. 85,000 crores changed hands during the four-year Coal Scam.
Most interestingly, the Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh presided over the Coal Ministry as a Cabinet Minister after the resignation of Sh. Shibu Soren, till this portfolio was given to Sh. Sriprakash Jaiswal with Independent Charge in 2009. BJP demands explanation from the Prime Minister about this loot of precious natural resources, as the culpability of the Prime Minister is clearly established.
If properly investigated, this Coal Scam will prove the worst scam of looting the natural resources and making money with the threat of the Bill pending before the Parliament. The Government also changed the meaning of captive capacity to suit those who wanted coal blocks without them being the present users of coal. Since 1993, it was decided that blocks would be allotted to the users, i.e., Power, Cement and Steel manufacturers. Since 2006, this was changed for ‘intended users’ who don’t have any capacity at present, but have even a plan merely on paper.
The modus operandi of the 2G Scam with this Coal Scam seems to be similar. Rules were bent, definitions were changed, modalities were distorted to benefit the allottees. Illegal gratification was obtained by using the aforementioned Bill as an instrument. The similarity goes further. In 2G, when the allottees sold part of their equity at exorbitant prices, it was proved that the 2G Spectrum was allotted lower than the market price. Similar evidence is available in this Scam, also. For example, many of the allottees have sold their allotted coal blocks to other companies at a hefty premium. A detailed enquiry will reveal such transactions. Only 2 out of these 143 companies’ allotments have actually started production. BJP demands immediate cancellation of nearly 90 Pvt. Companies coal blocks whose time limit for commencement of production has lapsed.
(O.P. KOHLI)
Headquarter Incharge
All this information are taken from BJP official site
