TNN reported that Mr Prithviraj Chavan chief minister of Maharashtra has decided to organize a meeting with union ministry of coal to sort out the metro region coal mining issue.

It may be recalled that about 60,000 hectare land in Nagpur metro region has been declared as coal bearing area. As per norms, a no objection certificate from MoC is needed for development in such areas. A controversy has erupted ever since Western Coalfields Limited furnished this information to Nagpur Improvement Trust.

Officials of WCL and NIT met Mr Chavan on this issue. NIT chairman Mr Pravin Darade told Mr Chavan that the agency was having major problems in planning of metro region due to the coal bearing area restriction. The CM told WCL officials that the state government was not in favor of new open cast mines in the metro region. A communication in this regard would be sent to MoC soon.

WCL and NIT also mutually agreed that no mining activity will take place within five km radius of the city. Only Godhni and Bokhara areas are within this limit.

Later addressing a press conference, the CM said that there was no problem with underground mines as the area of land to be acquired was far less. He added that "We will have economic development of metro region along with coal mining."

However, NIT and NMC officials had told the CM that underground mining too would create hindrances in development as there are a lot of restrictions in areas located above underground mines.

(Sourced from www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com)