Consider Utkal E coal block for Nalco: Panel

New Delhi: A Parliamentary committee today asked the government to consider allocation of Utkal?E coal block in Odisha to aluminium major Nalco as "it is crucial for the company's expansion plans".

"The committee feels that allocation of Utkal-E coal block for Nalco is very crucial for the company in carrying out its expansion plans. The committee, therefore, strongly urges the government to favourably consider...," Standing Committee on Coal and Steel chaired by Rakesh Singh said in a report.

The Utkal?E coal block is among the 204 de-allocated by the Supreme Court in September last year.

The company, which was earlier weighing filig a review petition for the block, is exploring options of getting it back on the provisions of the recently passed MMDRA Act, which empowers the government to allocate coal blocks to PSUs.

"The company has already sent a formal communication to the government in this regard," the report said.

Nalco had a plan outlay of Rs 1,181.02 crore at BE (budgetary estimates) 2014-15 which was reduced to Rs 400.38 crore at RE (revised estimate) stage, the report further said.

For 2015-16, it added that the outlay has been Rs 1,142.21 crore, mainly for development of greenfield projects and expansion plans of the company like captive coal mine Utkal?E coal block, among others.