No-go, says coal ministry to Jairam’s green ideas

The coal ministry has proposed the reduction of no-go areas for mining to 10% of the total forest cover as against 35% proposed by the environment ministry.

The coal ministry has proposed the reduction of no-go areas for mining to 10% of the total forest cover as against 35% proposed by the environment ministry. This move, though could sound the death knell for forests, has wide support among Central ministries.

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“It is felt that only the cases of pristine forests, or wildlife sanctuaries should be considered where coal mining may not be allowed,” the coal ministry said in a note prepared for the Cabinet’s consideration.

The argument is that without adequate coal, India may not be able to achieve high economic growth. There is a gap of 83 million tonnes of coal between demand and supply, projected to rise to 200 million tonnes by 2013-14, the note says.

The note comes after law ministry gave its opinion following a reference from the PMO that the environment ministry’s policy on go and no-go areas was not in consonance with the Forest Conservation Act, 1983. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said Forest Advisory panel won’t allow projects in no-go areas.

A majority of coal resources in India are in dense forests, which according to the Forest Survey of India are just 40% of the country’s total forest cover.

The coal ministry believes that 10% of forest areas in the coal field regions is enough to maintain bio-diversity. The ministry has also suggested that mining be allowed in wildlife corridors — regions used by animals to move across forests.

The Planning Commission and ministries such as power and road transport support the coal ministry. The plan panel has described the “go-no-go” concept as not advisable. “We have circulated a note on the environment ministry’s policy,” said plan panel member BK Chaturvedi.