SC verdict on coal block allocation to enable fresh start, says govt

The government on Wednesday said that the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the allocation of 214 coal blocks was in accordance with its stand and would enable it to make a 'fresh start'.

"Basically, the judgement is in accord with the Government of India's stand in affidavit," Law and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in the national capital.

"The government has already taken a position (on the issue) that we will be happy if all (blocks) are cancelled so that we can make a fresh start except for those which are (with) government companies and some other pressing needs," he told reporters.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks which were alloted to various companies since 1993 and in which it was claimed that around Rs 2 lakh crores were invested.