The Telegraph reported that the union environment minister Mr Jairam Ramesh has refused to grant clearance to the Mahan coal block in the Singrauli fields in Madhya Pradesh for two proposed private power plants by Essar and HINDALCO.

Mr Ramesh said that he is unable to agree to consider clearance for the Mahan coal block. He said the coal block would destroy good natural forest cover, interfere with wildlife habitats, and allowing it would open the doors for other coal blocks leading to a fragmentation of rich forest cover.

However, Mr Ramesh said that he is submitting the proposal to the GoM on coal mining in no go areas with a recommendation that an alternative source of coal be provided for the two power plants.

Mr Ramesh conceded that substantial investments of about INR 3,600 crore appear to have already been made in the power plants linked to the Mahan coal block. But, he said, this leaves aside the question why the plants had started in the first place without forest clearances. He added that “Fait accompli has become far too common in environmental and forest clearances.”

The Union coal ministry had in April 2006 allocated the Mahan coal block in Sidhi district for a 1200MW power plant proposed by Essar Power and a 650MW plant by HINDALCO Industries. The coal block had received environmental clearance in December 2008, but has been awaiting forest clearance for diversion of 1,182 hectares of forest land.

(Sourced from www.telegraphindia.com)