Govt to place views on coal blocks before PAC by Sept 14

The government will place its views on the observations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report on coal block allocations before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by September 14.

CAG in its recent report has estimated undue benefits to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private players on account of coal blocks allocation to them without resorting to auction.

"The coal ministry will submit its comments to PAC on CAG's observations on coal blocks allocations by September 14," a top ministry official said.

PAC, chaired by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has decided to examine the government auditor's report on coal block allocations, along with three other latest reports by the auditor.

The ministry is likely to contend before the Parliamentary panel that the estimates by the government auditor should not have been done in the manner it was made.

With Congress and BJP locking horns over CAG report on coal inside Parliament, its ripples are likely to be felt in the meetings of PAC when the issue is taken up for scrutiny.