After the CAG submitted its audit report on allocation of coal blocks and augmentation of coal production, there was a massive hue and cry about the alleged gains to private parties resulting in a Parliament session being wiped out. However, the discourse did not shed light on the real problems behind the so-called 'coal-gate' scandal - namely the non-transparent and discretionary way in which coal blocks were allocated without sufficient conditions attached. Moreover, popular discourse completely missed another important aspect highlighted by the CAG report - namely the deterioration of capacity within the public sector CIL. These points were highlighted in a media article published in The Hindu Business Line of 11th September 2012.