The Coal Ministry on Monday received a total 69 applications from various PSUs like NTPC, SAIL, Nalco and NLC for allocation of 36 coal blocks, which would be given to state-run companies only.
The maximum number of applications (9) were received for Gare Palma Sector II coal mine in Chhattisgarh, an official release said on Monday.
As part of the allotment process, online applications and offline supporting documents were opened today in the presence of applicants, the release said.
"Maximum number of applications (9) have been received for Gare Palma Sector II coal mine whereas no application has been received in respect of Barjora (North) coal mine," it said.
The online applications were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of representatives of applicants, it said, adding that the the applications will now be evaluated by a technical evaluation committee.
Sources said that PSUs such as NTPC and the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) have applied for for Gare Palma Sector II coal mine in Chhattisgarh.
Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corp Ltd, Gujarat State Electricity Corp Ltd, Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Co Ltd, Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd, Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp Ltd are among other PSUs which have applied for the block, sources said.
The coal block was earlier alloted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Co and Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board. Gare Palma Sector III coal block in Chhattisgarh also received six applications from NTPC, Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Co Ltd, Telangana State Power Generation Corporation, and others, sources said.
Utkal D and Utkal E coal blocks in Odisha together received six applications from companies like NTPC, Nalco and NLC Tamilnadu Power Ltd, they said.
However, no PSU showed interest in Bajora North coal mine in West Bengal which was earlier alloted to Damodar Valley Corporation.
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) applied for Sitanala coal mine in Jharkhand which is earmarked for steel sector. The allotment process for 36 coal mines to government companies started in January, with the release of Notice Inviting Applications (NIA).
Of these coal blocks, one mine will be given to the steel sector while the rest will be given to the power sector.
The government had said that it will be able to complete execution of allotment agreement by the end of February. The government is also putting on sale 46 coal blocks to be auctioned to private companies.
