The government offered 17 coal blocks for allocation to government companies and identified six more explored coal blocks to allocate to private sector through competitive bidding.

The government said this in its 'Report to the People' released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the fourth anniversary of UPA-II.

These blocks, which are listed below, have estimated reserves of 8.45 billion tonne.

The blocks on offer are: Jilga-Barpali, Baisi, Banai, Bhalmunda, Kente and Kerwa in Chhattisgarh, Gowa, Pachwara South and Kalyanpur-Badalpara in Jharkhand, Mahajanwadi in Maharashtra, Kundanali-Laburi, Sarapal-Nuapara, Tentuloi, Chandrabila and Brahamani in Odisha, Gandbahera-Uhhenia block in Madhya Pradesh and Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsingha inWest Bengal.

In December 2012, the government notified rules for auction of coal mines through competitive bidding, the report said.

Government decided to adopt competitive bidding for allocation of mines in its bid to make policy for mines allotment transparent. This follows the allegation made by the CAG that the government exchequer lost around Rs 1.86 lakh crore on account of blocks allotment to 57 private firms without auction.