MoEF frees 36,000 ha of 'no-go' area for coal mining

Hasdeo-Arand field in Chattisgarh still a 'no-go' area

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Neha Sethi | July 6, 2010



Succumbing to pressures from the PMO and the coal ministry, the  ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has released 36,000 hectare land for coal mining—which was earlier classified as “no-go” area because of fragile ecological condition.

This does not, however, include the Hasdeo-Arand field in Chhattisgarh which the PMO and the coal ministry wanted to be freed.

Talking to reporters, environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh said that there were a lot of underground mines in the land freed for mining. “Underground mining suits the environment ministry. We have problem with strip mining,” he added.

His ministry took the decision in consultation with the coal ministry.

The "no-go" area had become a bone of contention as it was found to contain high grade coal reserve and both the PMO and the coal ministry wanted the MoEF to relax its norms so that these could be mined.

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