If you thought the 2G scam was enormous in size, here is an even bigger one. We are referring to none other than the coal blocks allocation scam. As per the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), private companies gained about Rs 1.86 trillion on account of non-transparent coal block allocation. CAG had earlier pegged the number at Rs 10.67 trillion. However, it must be noted that this figure included public companies as well.
The CAG report raises some important questions. Why was the introduction of the competitive bidding process for coal block allocation delayed? Had the process been operationalised, it could have contributed significantly to the national exchequer. But there is one more worrying aspect to this scam. For most of the period when the allocation of coal blocks was done, the coal ministry was headed by none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This has created a furor in the Parliament with the Opposition demanding the PM's resignation. Besides coal, the CAG report on power has accused the government of favouritism and benefitting companies such as Reliance Power and Tata Power.
The CAG report raises some important questions. Why was the introduction of the competitive bidding process for coal block allocation delayed? Had the process been operationalised, it could have contributed significantly to the national exchequer. But there is one more worrying aspect to this scam. For most of the period when the allocation of coal blocks was done, the coal ministry was headed by none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This has created a furor in the Parliament with the Opposition demanding the PM's resignation. Besides coal, the CAG report on power has accused the government of favouritism and benefitting companies such as Reliance Power and Tata Power.
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