How does the Screening Committee make its decision

8. How does the Screening Committee make its decision

The Screening Committee is meant to follow set criteria for selection of the allottee. The
concerned ministries are meant to scrutinize the track record of applicant-company, technoeconomic
viability of the project, state of project preparedness and assessment of coal
requirement in terms of quality and quantity etc., and make their recommendations to the
Screening Committee. The applicants for the block are also allowed to make representations
to the Screening Committee.

● During the NDA regime, and prior to that, coal blocks were allotted to private parties only
after ensuring that Coal India Limited did not have an objection. This way, the work of
important public enterprises was not compromised. Further, under the NDA, coal blocks
were allotted to private parties after extensive verification and objective assessment. It is
for this reason that between 1993 to 2005 (i.e. for 12 years) only 70 blocks were allotted.
In contrast, between 2006-2009, 142 Coal blocks were given away by the UPA Government
under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh as Coal Minister.
● It is important to note that the UPA Government removed the obligation to get Coal India's
approval, hence making it easier for the Screening Committee to act in a partial and discretionary
manner.