Prime Minister sanctioning authority for coal blocks, says Dasari Narayana Rao

Hyderabad: Former coal minister and film director Dasari Narayana Rao, who was questioned by CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of Talabira-II coal block, on Saturday said that the Prime Minister was the final authority on sanction of coal blocks. Denying his involvement in the scam, Mr Rao said that he had no role in the scam and the truth will finally come out after investigation.

Talking to media at his residence, Mr Rao said that there was a high-level screening committee consisting of more than 30 senior IAS officials, who scrutinised the applications for coal blocks. He said that as a minister of state, the committee forwarded him the recommendations, which he forwarded to the PM. Mr Rao asserted that the PM was in charge of the coal portfolio during allotment of coal blocks. Asked about former coal secretary P.C. Parakh mentioning the roles of ministers of states in scuttling proposals to evade bidding, Mr Rao said it was the bureaucrat’s opinion.