Site checks at mine blocks to identify likely auction issues

Video brochures, team studies among innovative ways to pique investor interest

- Rituraj Baruah & Subhash Narayan

The coal ministry has for the first time carried out ground verification of coal blocks ahead of commercial auctions, in a bid to attract investors. It has also prepared videos on the 40 major blocks that will go under the hammer in the 8th round of commercial auctions, set to begin soon.

The secretary to the ministry, Amrit Lal Meena, said a team was constituted under the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI) which visited the blocks to get to know the issues that may restrain investors from bidding.

"For the first time, a team has been sent for verification for 40 blocks...for the eighth round. The intention is to know if there is any problem on the ground, if there is forest cover or habitation and if there is a requirement to carve out that forest covered portion and make the block attractive. We are also seeing if there is too large a block and if it can be divided into two or three blocks. After the verification, satisfactory reports have come from CMPDI," Meena said in an interview.