The government?s decision to curb e-auction sale of the fuel has prompted transporters to protest by stalling mining operations in Odisha. Coal sold through the e-auction route is moved via road, while those with FSA get it by rail, on captive lines or through the railways. The Environment Ministry has been insisting on rail movement of coal as a pre-condition to grant green nod to mines so as to curb air pollution in the mining districts. The truckers fear loss of business if the e-auction quantity is reduced. All consumers of Mahanadi Coalfields who have a fuel-supply agreement (FSA) with the company will have to transport 30 per cent of the FSA quantity by road if the destination point is within 50 km from the mines.
"This scheme saw the light of the day due to active support from Coal India and the Ministry of Coal," said the official press release. The arrangement, however, will lead to a sharp rise in the landed cost of coal supplied under the FSAs.