The coal ministry plans to circulate a note on enhancing coal production in the next cabinet meeting, asking that the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) consider all coal blocks irrespective of its No-Go policy for mining in forest areas for the required clearances. With the PM suggesting that environment laws could bring back the licence permit raj, it is upto the civil society to take up the cause of the environment and wildlife.

So, representatives of 27 NGOs have written an open letter to the PM asking him to support the MoEF policy and ensure that fast-track mining proposals do not weaken green laws.

Part of the letter is produced below. Read the entire text of the letter in the attachment.

To,
The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers of India
New Delhi

Open Statement in support of No Go zones for mining in forest areas

We are in possession of the cabinet note drafted by the coal ministry ‘Need for making available more coal bearing areas for enhancing coal production’ planned to be issued in the cabinet meeting shortly. This note has been circulated with no consultation with the public or experts and states:”the ‘MoEF may be advised to consider all coal blocks without reference to go and No Go areas, as per the current statutes and stipulation for according forest clearance.”

Against this background, and recognising that intact forest areas are important watersheds, repositories of biodiversity and wildlife, and a critical survival resource for thousands of forest dwelling and forest dependent communities across India...