Environment and coal ministries have jointly undertaken a study in nine major coalfields to facilitate objective, informed and transparent decision on diversion of forest land for coal mining projects

Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said informed the Rajya Sabha that the nine coal mines include Talcher, IB Valley, Mandiraigarh, Sohagpur, Wardha, Singrauli, North Karanpura, West Bokaro and Hasdeo.

The coal blocks located in these coalfields have been classified into two categories.

Ms Jayanthi Natarajan added that "Unfragmented forest landscapes having gross forest cover more than 30% and weighted forest cover more than 10% named as category-A or 'No-Go' area. Fragmented forest landscapes having GFC less than 30% and WFC less than 10 %, named as category-B or 'Go' area.”

(Sourced from PTI)