ET reported that the Indian coal ministry will push for allowing mining in two densely forested coal areas, Mahan and Hasdeo Arand, at a meeting of the group of ministers on the NO GO forest areas for mining.

It has rejected environment ministry's decision to deny permission to Essar and Hindalco to mine the Mahan block and KSK Energy to mine the Morga II block in the Hasdeo Arand coal field in Chhattisgarh. Both these blocks are located in densely forested areas. These are also among the eight blocks suggested for forest clearance by PMO committee headed by Mr TKA Nair principal secretary to the prime minister.

The GoM will discuss the fate of all projects that have been allocated coal blocks in the Hasdeo Arand area. The environment ministry has opposed the opening up of this area as it is densely forested. The coal ministry has argued that investments to the tune of INR 35,000 crore have been made in the 19 blocks of the coal field in Chhattisgarh. The ministry is of the view that mining should be permitted to prevent financial losses. The environment ministry on its part has made it clear that it will not entertain mining proposals in the dense forests of Hasdeo Arand. In late June, when mining was cleared in the three blocks of Tara, Parsa East and Kante Basin, former environment minister Jairam Ramesh made it clear that the permission was contingent on mining is restricted to the fringe area and as long as the state government does not come up with fresh applications for opening up the main Hasdeo-Arand area.

The GoM will also take up Adani Power's 3,300MW project in Tiroda, which had been allocated the captive coal blocks of Lohara West and Lohara Extension. Permission to mine these blocks was denied as the block was located in the vicinity of the Tadoba Tiger Reserve.

(Sourced from ET)