India: JSW Energy, Reliance Cement and Ambuja Cement are among the 134 companies that have cleared the initial stages of coal auction for 21 blocks put up by the government. "Out of the 176 applications we received, 134 are found to be technically valid," said Coal secretary Anil Swarup.

The government had initially planned to auction 23 mines in the first round, but has put on hold bidding for two mines due to litigations. Of the 134 bids that are technically qualified, 12 are for the Gare Palma IV/7 coal mine in Chhattisgarh, making it the most sought after mine. Jaiprakash Associates and UltraTech Cement are among the 12 bidders. The Amelia (North) block and Bicharpur mines, both in Madhya Pradesh, have 10 bidders each.

Swarup said that the Ministry will go ahead with the auction of mines as per the schedule, though there have some court cases as a consequence of which there have been some changes. "Consequent to an interim order of the High Court, the auction of two mines has been put on hold. These are the Gotitoria East and Gotitoria West mines," said Swarup. The Coal Ministry had put both of the blocks in the unregulated sector, but the Court had directed that they should be considered for regulated sector.