Elom Solar Receives Vesting Order for Phutamura Coal Block in Chhattisgarh
The Phutamura Coal Block was auctioned by the Government of India under the 12th round of coal block auctions, which is overseen by the Ministry of Coal
Tension has erupted ahead of the public hearing for the Purunga Coal Block in Dharamjaigarh, even as the government has issued another vesting order for a new coal block. The Phutamura Coal Block, auctioned in March 2025, has now been officially allotted to Elom Solar Private Limited, paving the way for the start of land acquisition.
Over time, acquiring land for coal mining projects has become increasingly difficult, with growing opposition from local communities. Residents have been raising concerns over compensation, rehabilitation, and transparency, while several companies are being accused of fueling discontent among villagers for vested interests.
The 12th round of coal block auctions was held in March 2025, with 25 coal blocks listed for bidding. Additionally, three blocks that remained unsold in the 11th round were given another opportunity.
In this round, Chhattisgarh had the highest number of blocks—seven—followed by Jharkhand (5), Odisha (2), Madhya Pradesh (4), West Bengal (2), Rajasthan (2), and Maharashtra (3).
From Raigarh district, the Teram, West of Chhal, and Phutamura coal blocks were put up for auction. For the Phutamura Coal Block located in the Mand-Raigarh coalfields, as many as 13 companies participated in the bidding process. Ultimately, Elom Solar Private Limited, based in New Delhi, emerged as the successful bidder.
Following this, the Ministry of Coal has now issued a vesting order to Elom Solar, authorizing the company to initiate land acquisition for mining operations. The block covers an area of 7.32 square kilometers and holds an estimated 170 million tonnes of coal reserves.
Thirteen Companies Participated in the Bidding
The companies that submitted bids for the Phutamura Coal Block included: Penna Shipping Limited, Odisha Metallurgical Industry Pvt. Ltd., Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Rama Metals and Energy Pvt. Ltd., Sai Surya Professional Services Pvt. Ltd., Sunflag Iron and Steel Company, Adas Mining and Infra Pvt. Ltd., Amalgam Steel and Power Limited, Neelkanth Special Minerals Pvt. Ltd., Elom Solar Pvt. Ltd., Oriental Queries and Mines Pvt. Ltd., KSK Mahanadi Power Limited, and VPR Mining Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
With the vesting order now issued, Elom Solar is expected to begin the land acquisition process, which may once again face local opposition in the region.
