Clarification on Claims of Giving Preferential Treatment to one State for Allocation of Coal Blocks & Singareni Collieries Company Ltd

It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Coal about allegations of giving preferential treatment to one State Government in allocation of coal blocks which is false  and not based on facts.

There is no special rule or scope of giving special treatment to any one State. Therefore, the question of preferring one State as claimed is baseless and misleading.

Facts are given below:

Two lignite blocks was allotted to GMDC (Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd) in 2015 with following details:

Bharkandam lignite block allotted on 10.08.2015

Panandhro Extn. Lignite block allotted on 10.08.2015

Similarly, three coal blocks were allotted to SCCL, a Government of Telengana PSU:

Naini coal block in Odisha allotted on 13.08.2015

Pengadappa coal block in Telangana allotted on 15.12.2016

New Patrapara coal block in Odisha allotted on 30.10.2019.

One  coal    mine Tadicherla-I in Telangana was also  allotted to Telengana State Power Generation Limited on 31.08.2015

 Important to bring to attention that out of above three coal  mines  allocated to SCCL a Government of Telengana PSU, Pengaddppa and New Patrapara coal blocks have been surrendered by the SCCL under amnesty scheme of Central Govt., wherein penalties for surrender of coal mines by PSUs  has  been  waived  off  by  the Centre. The Naini block allotted to SCCL, a Government of Telengana PSU in 2015 is still not operationalized by the Government of Telengana even though GoI has facilitated in obtaining all the clearances.

Auction of coal blocks are being carried out through Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 & Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 that Union of India has undertaken regulation of mines and mineral development. Both these Acts provide for a transparent mechanism of mine allocation.

The most transparent mode of auction is being followed since the launch of commercial mining on 18th, June 2020, under which all coal

/lignite blocks have been given through auction route for sale of coal/ lignite. No coal/lignite blocks have been given through allotment route after launch of commercial mining to any State or Central PSU.

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AKN/RKP

(Release ID: 1882219)
Visitor Counter : 504

Clarification on Media Reports regarding ‘Oil Ministry seeks windfall tax review’


There have been some media reports which states that ‘Oil Ministry seeks windfall tax review’. The reports, quoting Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas’ letter of August, 2022 have stated that the Ministry has sought changes in the levy of Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED).


These reports are misleading. It is clarified that the levy of SAED from 1st July, 2022 was accompanied by Government’s announcement of a mechanism of fortnightly review.  Six such reviews have already taken place since the levy of SAED.  In the meanwhile, from time to time, Government has received representations and requests for clarifications in respect of modalities of levy, rates, determination of liability, etc.  These necessitate consultations as well as exchange of information between different Ministries of Government including the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.  Such consultations are an on-going process and are used to inform successive reviews.


Selective leakage of any such communication, including one which is six weeks old, without knowledge of context, background or communications made previously or thereafter gives a misleading impression and provides an incomplete picture.  Such mischievous reporting is totally uncalled for and raises doubts about the motive behind such reporting.


By its very nature, SAED (or windfall tax, as it is commonly referred to) represents a response to a dynamic situation.  Recalibration is therefore required and the design provides for the same based on market inputs and feedback.


Crude oil prices have witnessed extreme volatility in 2022.  This has resulted in very high prices for end consumers at petrol pumps. Countries around the world have implemented various measures to mitigate the adverse impacts on consumers.  “Windfall tax” is one of the measures which helps in dealing with the situation. The extent of its applicability, reference period, amount of cess/ tax/ duty, incidence of tax liability, mechanism for review are integral to such a tax.


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RKJ/M




(Release ID: 1860887)
Visitor Counter : 584











Clarification regarding fake websites


It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Education that in order to dupe innocent applicants several websites have been created with the name similar to the schemes (like www.sarvashiksha.online, https://samagra.shikshaabhiyan.co.in, https://shikshaabhiyan.org.in)  of this Department. 


These websites are offering employment opportunities to the aspiring candidates and misguiding the job aspirants through the layout of website, content and presentation in a manner similar to original website and asking for money from the respondents for the applications. While, these websites have come to the notice of the Department of School Education and Literacy, there may be more such other websites/social media accounts promising jobs and demanding money for recruitment process. 


 The General Public is, hereby, advised to avoid applying for job opportunities on such websites and to ensure themselves that the websites are authorised by visiting the official website of the concerned Department/personal inquiry/telephone call/e-mail to safeguard their own interest. Any person applying on these websites will be doing so at his own risk & cost and shall be responsible for the consequences thereof.


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MJPS/AK




(Release ID: 1803647)
Visitor Counter : 188













Clarification of Culture Ministry in connection with artefacts of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

The  Ministry of Culture has clarified that the news appearing in media about the missing artefacts of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is completely untrue. The Ministry has said that an exhibition was inaugurated at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata on 23rd  January this year to commemorate 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subas Chandra Bose where these artefacts were displayed. These artefacts  were loaned from Red Fort Museum by ASI to Victoria Memorial after following a proper procedure in which a formal MoU was signed between the two organisations . The MoU is valid for 6 months and further extendable by a year. These artefacts were sent to Kolkata with proper escort and insurance. The Ministry has further said that the loaning and borrowing of antiquities and  exhibits are a regular exercise between museums. In this case, both ASI and VMH are   under the administrative control of Ministry of Culture.

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NB/UD

(Release ID: 1730760)
Visitor Counter : 546




Clarification Regarding Central Global Bhd’s MoU with China’s Huobi Mall for the Development of a Global Data Centre in Malaysia

Main Market-listed Central Global Berhad (“CGB”) wishes to clarify that the information published in several news journals in China regarding a strategic partnership/Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) between the Company and/or its subsidiary, CIC Construction Sdn Bhd and Huobi Mall to build a Global Data Base Collection Centre in Malaysia is inaccurate.

CGB executive chairman Dato’ Faisal Zelman

CGB’s Executive Chairman Dato’ Faisal Zelman said: “We are indeed in discussion with Huobi Mall on the possibility of collaborating on the construction of a proposed data base collection centre in Malaysia. However, we are still in the midst of evaluating the viability of the aforesaid project and have yet to sign a MoU or any other forms of agreement with Huobi Mall in this regard. We will make further announcements as and when there are any significant developments on this matter.”

Central Global Berhad is principally involved in manufacturing and construction. The company is a specialist in industrial tapes and label stock manufacturing as well as a one-stop solution provider for crepe-paper masking. Its construction division was established in 2009 and is mostly active in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Please contact the below for more information:
Fintan Ng
Tel: +60 12-233 6986
Email: f.ng@swanconsultancy.biz


Topic: Press release summary