Manmohan Singh puts coal mines allocation on hold, seeks AG's advice

New Delhi: After facing severe criticism from the Opposition over coal blocks allocation, the Manmohan Singh government has decided to put mines allocation on hold till the bill is passed, according to sources.

Sources further said that Manmohan Singh wants the Attorney General to be consulted again on coal blocks allocation.

The Opposition has stalled Parliament for almost a weak, after a CAG report suggested that there was a lost due to lack of bidding, demanding Manmohan Singh's resignation.

Sources said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants the Attorney General to be consulted again on coal blocks allocation.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report on coal blocks allocation had suggested that there was a lost of Rs 1.86 lakh corore due to lack of bidding.

However, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday denied any loss due to coal blocks allocation.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, in a press conference on Saturday called Finance Minister P Chidambaram's zero-loss theory on coal block allocation as 'preposterous', saying that the right to mine is with a private company once the block is allotted.

Meanwhile, Minister of State (Mines) Dinsha Patel said, "The ministry has asked for an opinion from law department regarding the issue. The mines allocation have been put on hold till the ministry gets an opinion from Attorney General."

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