Close on the heels of the Indian government cancelling the auction of nine coal blocks last month, after a poor response, government-owned and operated steel majors have pitched for preferential allocation of coal reserves to ensure raw material security.
Taking up cudgels on behalf of government steel companies Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) and NMDC Limited, the Steel Ministry in a communication to the Coal Ministry has sought preferential coal block allocation to these companies outside the auction route.
