Govt to cancel auction of 3 coal blocks identified earlier

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to cancel the auction of the three coal blocks for which bids were invited in February, as issues concerning prior clearances, etc need to be revisited, Piyush Goyal, minister of state for coal and power, informed the Lok Sabha. The three blocks were Jhirki & Jhirki (West) of East Bokaro Coalfield and Tokisud-II of South Karanpura Coalfield, both in Jharkhand, and the Andal Babuisol block in Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal. “The Minister further stated that with the approval of competent authority it has been decided to cancel the above mentioned auction as issues concerning prior clearances etc. need to be revisited,” an official release said.