During the review meeting, CIL officials intimated that the verification exercise to ascertain the genuine consumers of the non-core sector is in progress. So far, 3110 consumers have been verified out of 4798 valid linked consumers. 224 consumers have been found to be either non-existing or non-operational and the coal supplies to such consumers have been stopped.

    Shri Paswan had also earlier ordered random investigation by Vigilance teams of coal companies and this exercise has revealed that there are certain cases of conflicting reports and in 72 cases the CBI has been moved to investigate.

    Shri Paswan also sought opinion of various CMDs of the coal companies about rationalization of the new sales policy for non-core sector, which includes price and distribution of coal. The new policy would envisage addressing problems of consumers effectively, while protecting the business interests of Coal India. Keeping this in view, Shri Paswan advised Coal India to deliberate on various aspects of the new policy in such a manner that interests of non-core sector consumers like small scale industries and Brick Kilns are not ignored and they do not suffer on account of price differentiation and poor distribution. He further advised that another review meeting would be held on March 21, 2002 when various aspects of the new policy would be concretized and finalized.