IMG discusses missing files on coal blocks allotment

New Delhi: The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on missing files with regard to coal block allocations met today. “The inter-ministerial panel under the chairmanship of additional secretary coal AK Dubey today discussed and deliberated about the missing files with regard to coal block allocations sought by CBI,” a source said. The IMG was constituted last month for the purpose of locating the records. The coal ministry had stated that efforts were being made to locate seven files, 173 applications and 9 documents pertaining to coal block allocations. The ministry had said that the mandate of the committee, which has representatives from various ministries, including power and steel, is to examine and review non-availability of any file or document and suggest appropriate action for locating the same. Minister of State for Coal, Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, had in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha earlier this week had said: “Of the 43 files, 21 have already been handed over to the CBI, 15 are available for handing over and CBI has been requested to collect the same. Efforts are being made to locate the rest seven files. “Out of 19 applications, 3 applications have already been made available to CBI. The remaining 16 applications along with 157 applications are being searched,” he had said. Out of the 17 other documents, six have been supplied, two are available for handing over and nine are being searched, the minister said. In response to a letter by the coal ministry, requesting CBI to indicate list of specific documents which needed to be furnished, the probe agency sent a consolidated list of documents that were yet to be made available to them, he said. The minister had further said that so far 769 files in original have been handed over to the CBI. PTI