Environment Min seeks details on Fatehpur East Coal's project

The Environment Ministry, looking into the issue of providing clearances to Fatehpur East Coal's mining project in Chhattisgarh, has sought more details, including the rehabilitation plans, from the company.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) "after detailed deliberations, sought...Information for further consideration of the project," according to an official document.

The details include action plan for a railway line from coal block to proposed Dharamjaygarh station on east corridor, copy of R&R (rehabilitation and resettlement) plan and plan of temporary housing facility for contractual workers, it added.

The committee is looking into the issue of recommending environment clearances to the company's Fatehpur East coal block in Mand Raigarh Coalfields of Chhattisgarh.

Fatehpur East Coal Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between RKM Powergen Pvt Ltd, Visa Power Ltd; Athena Infra-projects Pvt Ltd, J L D Yavatmal Energy Ltd and Vandana Vidhyut Ltd.

The EAC also noted that the Coal Ministry had in January, 2014, issued show-cause notice to the proponent to explain "...As to why the delay in the development of coal block should not be held as violation of the terms and conditions of the allocation of Fatehpur East Coal Block and why the block should not be de-allocated".

The proponent informed the Committee that, the Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) in its 24th Meeting held in February, 2014 recommended that "...No action is recommended at present. However, in continuation of further development of the block shall be without any prejudice to the investigation consequent upon FIR against two of the five allocates," the document added.