The cabinet committee on infrastructure (CCI) on Thursday decided to constitute a group of ministers (GoM) to settle the tussle over the classification of “go, no-go” areas by the ministry of environment and forests on mining areas.
The ministries of coal and power along with Planning Commission have been pressing for lifting the ban on the concept of ‘go, no-go’ areas.
However, the environment ministry under minister Jairam Ramesh had refused to relent forcing the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene.
“Since ‘go, no-go’ has no legal sanctity, there should be no reference of it and no block be classified into ‘go, no-go’. The GoM will now take a final call on the validity of this classification,” said a senior government official who attended CCI meet.
“The ministries of coal and power were of the view that the ministry of environment should consider all forest clearance cases on its individual merit without prejudicing its mind with ‘go, no-go’ exercise."
They said the decision of the Cabinet to constitute a GoM is aimed at finding a pragmatic and balanced approach towards the issue of environmental clearances to mining areas, while ensuring ecology is not hurt.
{{/usCountry}}They said the decision of the Cabinet to constitute a GoM is aimed at finding a pragmatic and balanced approach towards the issue of environmental clearances to mining areas, while ensuring ecology is not hurt.
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