Coal-gate: Ministers' panel ends first round of assessment, 4 blocks to be deallocated

A government committee has recommended that punitive action be taken against eight companies who were allocated coal blocks but have failed to develop them. The committee has asked that four companies lose their coal permits, while it wants another three firms should to cede a portion of the bank guarantees they furnished when getting coal blocks. One other firm has been shortlisted for failing to provide a bank guarantee at all. The committee's recommendations will be considered by the Coal Minister, who said today that public firms who have been non-achievers will be scrutinised after private players.