The government is waiting for the economy to pick up before it can auction coal mines for captive and commercial use to private companies.
"Right now markets do not justify auction of coal blocks. Last round of auction has not seen many takers," Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said. "I don?t see auction of coal blocks in the near future, at least in the next two to three months." He said the framework of commercial mining has been prepared by the coal ministry.