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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Coalgate: CAG may stick to 'Rs 10.7 lakh crore' figure in final report; expected to soften tone

Coalgate: CAG may stick to 'Rs 10.7 lakh crore' figure in final report; expected to soften tone

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published Published on Mar 28, 2012   modified Modified on Mar 28, 2012
-The Economic Times
 
The national auditor is expected to stick to its controversial estimate of Rs 10.7 lakh crore as gains accrued to companies due to allocation of coal blocks on government discretion instead of auctioning them, an official in the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) office said. 

This is set to further embarrass the UPA government that has been mired in a series of controversies. "The report is not yet final, but the number is nearly final," the official said. 

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the tone of the final report may be softer. The CAG may say Rs 10.7 lakh crore was the benefit that accrued to the companies, instead of calling it a loss for the government, he added. 

A spokesman for the auditor declined comment. 
CAG
Separately, CAG Vinod Rai said at a conference in the Capital that his auditors always did a thorough job and their services were sought by international bodies. "We are incapable of making fundamental errors and we do scrutiny at two three layers," Rai said. 

Last week, the government rubbished the leaked draft CAG report that estimated the government lost Rs 10.7 lakh crore by giving away lucrative coal blocks to private and public companies such as NTPC, Tata and Jindal Group companies, instead of auctioning them. 

As the controversy gathered steam, Tata Sons issued a statement saying the Investment Commission led by Ratan Tata had recommended auctioning of coal blocks in a manner similar to the exploration and licensing policy in the oil and gas sector. 

Tata Sons issued the statement in response to media reports that the commission's recommendation was the force behind the government's decision to allot coal blocks. 

"The Investment Commission, set up by the Government of India, had recommended that investment in coal mining in India should be enhanced through bidding for coal blocks and inducement of competition through a 'use or lose' policy," Tata Sons said. The commission's report, "Investment Strategy for India", finalised in February 2006, recommended that the country should aim for an investment of $15 billion by 2010. 

The commission had proposed 50% foreign direct investment in coal mining, commercial sale of coal by mine owners, and categorically supported steps to prevent hoarding and ensure competition, Tata Sons said. After the draft report was leaked, government authorities dismissed the issue as premature while the PMO issued excerpts of a letter from the CAG in order to establish that the media reports were a very preliminary estimate. 

The UPA government has been embroiled in a series of controversies, including the controversial award of airwaves for which former telecom minister A Raja and top corporate executives were sent to jail. The CAG had estimated that the government lost Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the award of airwaves. The estimate has been dwarfed by the alleged losses from coal blocks.


The Economic Times, 28 March, 2012, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/coalgate-cag-may-stick-to-rs-10-7-lakh-crore-figure-in-final-report-expecte


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