Coal controversy likely to have impact on PAC meet

New Delhi: The political heat generated by the CAG report on coal block allocations is likely to have its impact on the meeting of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee next week when government auditor briefs the panel on the issue.

Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai and his team of officials will brief the PAC on the auditor's findings on coal block allocation which virtually washed out the entire Monsoon session of Parliament following disruptions by BJP-led opposition.

Soon after CAG's presentation on September 20, officials of the Coal Ministry will face the PAC on the issue of allocations.

In its August 23 meeting, PAC had decided to examine the four latest reports of the CAG, including the one on coal block allocation. The other CAG reports are on Delhi International Airport Ltd, Ultra Mega Power Plants and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

Besides the four new CAG reports, the PAC has 59 items on its agenda.

In its report on coal blocks, CAG has said that private firms are likely to gain Rs 1.86 lakh crore from coal blocks that were allocated to them on nomination basis instead of competitive bidding, which amounted to loss to national exchequer.

PTI