NEW DELHI, May 27 � Rejecting allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in allocation of coal blocks, the government today said the allotment was done in an �equitable and fair� manner.
�The process of allocation of blocks was equitable, fair and just which is borne out of the fact that there has never been any serious allegation against the working of the screening committee. The move to introduce competitive bidding is to make the selection process demonstrably more transparent,� the Coal Ministry said in a statement.
The clarification comes a day after Team Anna picked up portions of a draft CAG report to make charges against Singh when Coal Ministry was with him.
As per a preliminary assessment by the CAG, a loss of Rs 10.67 lakh crore was caused to the nation due to a coal scam and the issue led to uproar during the Budget session of Parliament.
The Coal Ministry said the Screening Committee was a broad based body with representation from State Governments, concerned ministries of the Central Government and the coal companies. � PTI
