The Coal Ministry has allocated 14 coal blocks to the Government companies and Central Public Sector Undertakings.

The decision is based on the recommendation of the Inter Ministerial Committee after due deliberations with applicant State Governments where the coal blocks are located and the Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority.

An official release said, the allocation of the blocks, with a geological reserve of 8,311 million tonnes will lead to an investment of over 1.6 lakh crore rupees in the power sector.

Of the four coal blocks allocated to NTPC, two are in Chhattisgarh and the remaining two in Odisha.

Other PSUs which have been allocated mines include Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited, Odisha Thermal Power Corporation and J&K State Power Development Corporation.