Coal blocks' allotment transparent, CBI probing criminality: Narayanasami

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Union Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasami on Thursday castigated the saffron brigade for making a mockery of the parliamentary democracy.

Narayanasami, a member of the Congress team undertaking a whirlwind nationwide tour, arrived here on Tuesday evening to clarify misgivings created by the BJP on the coal scam on the presumptive loss of Rs.1.86 lakh crore estimated by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Flanked by AICC general secretary Dhaniram Shandil and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, he fired one after another salvos against the opposition for making the issue political, keeping in view the assembly elections due in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing media persons in the banquet hall here, he gave a genesis of the total coal block allotted - 39 blocks by the NDA government during 1999 to 2004 without following any guidelines and 59 blocks by the UPA during 2004.

He questioned as to why the BJP is not demanding cancellation of 39 blocks or resignation of the chief ministers of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Odisha?

"As there was no guidelines for allocation of coal block, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted to regularise the coal block allocation through auction and proposed amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957," which was strongly opposed by above coal-bearing states, besides West Bengal, he informed.

He, however, produced copies of letters of the then CMs, Basundhara Raje (Rajasthan), Shivraj Singh Chauhan (MP) and Navin Pattanaik (Odisha) and Arjun Munda (Jharkhand) and West Bengal chef secretary to drive home his message.

Interestingly, he said, a screening committee comprising chief secretaries of coal-bearing states and officials of the union coal ministry were formed to allocate coal blocks after screening applications at a cheaper rate to private companies, like Jindal, Tata, and Reliance besides PSUs on condition to supply electricity at a reasonable rate of Rs.2.15 to 2.50 paisa per unit.

The screening committee allotted blocks on the basis of recommendation by the state governments which are on record; he said to hit at the double standard of the BJP.

"When the country is facing power shortage, the Prime Minister thought of this prudent step to be taken in consultation with the state governments in the larger interest of the people. Where is the loss?"

Pending amendment to the Act, the coal blocks were allotted by the screening committee in a transparent manner to overcome power crisis besides producing cement and steel, he clarified.

Announcing stern action against corruption or any misrepresentation of facts, the union minister said that the CBI has already registered cases against criminality and taken five companies to task.

Accusing BJP of double talks, Narayanasami said the opposition forced adjournment of the Parliament for 12-13 days causing huge losses to the exchequer (Time lost was 75 hours of Lok Sabha and 72 hours of Rajya Sabha while running of the house costs Rs 2.5 lakh per minute).

He said while the treasury bench was ready for discussion, but the BJP avoided it as it would have exposed their wrong doings.

Coal extraction takes minimum three to five years because of various procedures including environment and forest clearance, he said, adding the investors have already invested Rs.15 lakh crore.

The CAG is a constitutional body which submits report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament headed by a senior opposition leader, whose final report is binding on the government. But, the BJP politicised the CAG report even before the submission of report by the PAC.

The Prime Minister has constituted an inter-ministerial group (headed by additional secretary in coal ministry Zohra Chatterjee) to find out lapses in the allotment and recommend steps. The report is awaited, he said, adding action would be taken against any wrong doing, allotment cancelled if required.

Responding to question if any action is being contemplated against the CAG whose report created nation-wide furor twice including the 2G scam, he said the CAG is a constitutional body but the BJP misinterpreted the report.

"The BJP is resorting mudslinging for political advantage which is detrimental for the nation's development, for which the Congress has decided to bring the facts and figures before the people to judge," he concluded.