The Centre said 172 blocks came to be identified for captive mining in 1997 which were not proposed to be taken up by CIL. It said total geological reserve available for Coal India is estimated around 123 billion tonnes.
The affidavit was filed to answer the apex court which had on the last hearing questioned the Centre on how coal blocks belonging to CIL were allocated to private companies.
The affidavit also said the government had failed to produce certain documents on the progress of government policy on the coal block allocation to private companies which started in 1993.
