The move follows the government’s plan to utilise surplus coal from captive mines.

A Coal Ministry official told the The Economic Times it would "assess the total amount of surplus coal produced, year-wise, since the start of production from Gare Palma IV/5 coal block".

The coal block in the Mand Raigarh coalfields was assigned to Monnet Ispat and Energy in June 1996.

The panel will also examine the total quantity of coal produced from the date production started, the capacities of the sponge iron plant and the captive power plant, as well as the actual consumption of coal in the plant and coal preparation plant.

The official said the ministry would "examine the transit and ground loss of coal, since start of production from Gare Palma IV/5 coal block and carry out spot verification of coal block as well as end use plant".

Currently, no sales of surplus coal from the coal blocks allotted for captive use have been established.