Tatas, Essar, Lanco eye coal block auction.

Tatas, Essar group and Lanco are among the large business houses that have shown interest in acquiring three coal mines put up for sale by the coal ministry.

The auction is the first in India is a departure from earlier practice of allocating coal blocks, which is under investigation by law enforcement agencies.

The mines on block are Jhirki in East Bokaro Coalfield, Tokisud-II of South Karanpura Coalfield in Jharkhand and Andal Babuisol mine of Raniganj Coalfield in West Bengal.

'The response has been quite encouraging with about 32 entities, including large corporate bodies who are in the process of visiting the sites,' A K Debnath, chairman and managing director of Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL), told dna.

DNA