CHANDRAPUR: The committee constituted by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to study the impact of various proposed coal and thermal power projects on the buffer and corridors of tiger reserves has come across a serious flaw in the allocation of coal blocks to mining companies. It has been found in some instances that though the companies have approached the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) for environment clearance, the district administration and forest department, whose land will be acquired, are completely ignorant about the proposal, and even unaware of the location of the proposed project.
The three-member committee of NTCA was shocked when the district administration and forest department failed to locate the project site of a proposed coal mine by M/s Push Steel and Mining (P) Ltd falling in the tiger corridor. This company has been allocated a coal block in Bramhapuri for mining of 0.36 MTPA of coal in an area spread over 360 ha of land. The land includes 194.524 ha of private land, 56.957 of non-forest land and 108.519 ha of forest land. Kishor Rithe, wildlife expert and member of NTCA committee, confirmed that the administration failed to locate the Bramhapuri coal block allocated to Push Ltd during their visit for inspection. “None of the project proponents was present at a meeting held at the office of conservator of forest in Chandrapur to examine the proposal. Moreover, forest officials had no clue about the project, even as a major chunk of forest land is required for the proposed mine. Even officials of the district administration could not locate the project site. Hence, the site inspection could not be carried out,” said Rithe.
District mining officer Meena Nikhare confirmed that the company has not submitted any proposal seeking mining lease to their department, and they have no official details about the proposed project. Conservationists in Chandrapur have cried foul over the allocation of coal blocks in the district.
No comments:
Post a Comment