The blocks are Kunur mine in West Bengal, Morga South A, Morga South B, Meguli mines and Phutamera in Chhattisgarh, Dahegaon Dhapewada and Kalambi Kalmeshwar blocks in Maharashtra, Karanpura Mahuamilan mine in Jharkhand.
The decision was taken by the ministry this week, a top Coal Ministry official said, while refusing to reveal the names of the companies.
Though the current National Democratic Alliance government has not endorsed the figure, it has not even repudiated it.