UPA's policy on distribution of natural resources skewed: BJP

BJP on Thursday said government's move to show-cause allottees of 61 mines after Supreme Court's decision shows the policy of UPA dispensation on distribution of natural resources is skewed and demanded a clarification from the PMO on the issue.

"The UPA government's policy on distribution of natural resources is skewed. While windfall gains were made by private entities which got the coal mine allotments, the government did not get anything. The government has failed in proper implementation of the policies," BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters.

He maintained that the government's policies may have been designed with good intentions but their implementation had several lacunae.

He said the net worth of those companies which got the coal block mining licences went up but they did not pass on the benefits to the government coffers. Some of the licencees also passed on the mining to others for a price.

In reply to a question, Joshi said the Prime Minister or his office should tell the nation what went wrong.

The government today announced its decision to de-allocate all the captive coal blocks which have not obtained environment and in-principle forest clearances and issued show-cause notice to allotees of 61 such mines.