New Delhi, Jan 21 (ANI): India's Coal Ministry on Wednesday began the process of allotment of mines to central and state public sector units, starting with the allotment of 36 coal blocks. Coal Secretary of India, Anil Swarup said the ministry has started the process of coal allocation. He said the ministry is to issue guidelines for these coal blocks and those firms which already have coal linkages will have to surrender them and once the linkages are surrendered then more coal will be made available to state-owned Coal India Limited. For schedule II (producing mines) and schedule III (blocks list) category, 23 blocks each will be put on offer. Around 167 bidders requested to visit the coal block site, he stated further.