UPA must explain money lost in coal allocations: PM

Rourkela, April 1

Terming the recent Rs 2-lakh crore-coal auction a major success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the previous UPA government should explain where the money for the 204 mines it had allocated went.

Modi, who was speaking at a meeting after committing a Rs 12,000-crore expansion project of state-run SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant here, also said the money from the auction would go the states concerned, including Odisha, adding that the Odisha government should focus on long-term development plans and not on "the petty things that give instant benefits".

The Prime Minister promised full support for development of eastern states such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

"Where had the money gone when the previous government allocated as many as 204 coal mines? People at the helm then should explain how the present government could mobilise Rs 2 lakh crore out of auction of only 20 coal mines," Modi said, adding that the central government stood for transparency.

"We are in the government for 10 months and there is no scam or financial irregularities,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that his government had been keen on the development of eastern states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

“The development of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and others is not the real development of India. The country would develop in real terms if the eastern states grow,” he said.

He said with the MMDR Act states need not run after Delhi for royalty or mineral revenue and thanked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the his party's support for the MMDR (amendment) Bill both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Lauding the contribution of Rourkela to the steel sector of the country, the Prime Minister said: "Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel was known for uniting the country. And now Rourkela keeps the country united as people from different parts of the country live here." — PTI