The representation was made when Coal India chairman P K Sengputa called on GEB chairman Nalin Bhatt on Wednesday. The GEB has been purchasing nearly 1.30 crore tonne coal per annum at a cost of more than Rs 1,100 crore.

Bhatt said the power production proved costly and the plant machinery also suffered due to poor quality of coal supplied than the specified calorific value. The Board suffered loss in the weight of coal as large stones are crept in in the consignments, Bhatt said and demanded solution about the matter.

Sengupta is reported to have assured to look into the long-pending problems. The next meeting between high-level officers of the GEB and Coal India will be held in Calcutta around second week of October. Among others, the GEB will be represented by Board Member (Administration) S K Nanda.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by honorary member N R Waghmare, Member (Technical) K K Vaghela and chief engineer (fuel) M C Gandhi.

According to official sources, the GEB has been suffering from quality problems of coal for the last five years. Sources said that while the Centre did the sampling at the producing points, the Board has been demanding that the sampling be done at its sub-stations. The Centre is reported to have agreed to do sampling at the producing points as well as sub-stations.

Sources further said in the last several years the Board has demanded recovery of nearly Rs 800 crore as compensation from the Coal India for supplying substandard quality of coal.

They further added that the Board, too, has not paid nearly Rs 500 crore in the last few years for the coal received. Sources stated that the Board has been paying only up to 80 per cent of the bills.