Concerned about the fate of many coal mining projects that are located in the 'no-go' areas prohibited for mining by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the Ministry of Coal (MoC) has requested that the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) direct the MoEF to vet all forest clearance proposals for approval, irrespective of their categorization as 'A' or 'B', unless they are faced with insurmountable issues, on the grounds of their effect on wildlife forest reserves. - In effect, the MoC has called for an annulment of the outcome of the elaborate exercise undertaken by the environment ministry to demarcate the coal blocks of the country in terms of forest cover and, accordingly, permit or disallow mining operations therein.
- A total of 203 coal blocks currently fall under 'no-go' areas and will be freed up in case the CCI heeds MoC's plea. Cumulatively, these blocks have a production potential of about 660 MTPA, which is sufficient to fuel 130,000 MW worth of power generation capacity and, thereby, eradicate the power deficit faced by the nation, claims MoC.
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