Panel recommends green clearance to Sasan Power's coal block

Block having coal reserves of about 150 MT was allocated to Sasan Power Ltd

A high-level panel has recommended environment clearance to Chhatrasal coal mine in Madhya Pradesh alloted to Sasan Power Ltd, but with some conditions.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Environment Ministry after deliberations recommended the project for environment clearance, but with certain conditions, according to an official document.

The riders includes submission of a report on corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation and resettlement and rehabilitation (RR) done so far, taking requisite clearances from other appropriate agencies and implementation of assurances by the project proponent given during the public hearing.

The block having coal reserves of about 150 million tonnes was allocated to Sasan Power Ltd, a special purpose vehicle of Reliance Power which is executing the Sasan ultra mega power project. The mine has a peak-rated capacity of five million tonnes per annum.

The document further said the proposal was last considered in the EAC meeting held in 2010 and was recommended for environment clearances.

As per the Environment Ministry's Office Memorandum in 2011, wherein the competent authority has approved the grant of environmental clearance, the proponent will submit the stage-1 FC (Forest Clearance) within 12 months, which may be extended to 18 months in exceptional circumstances.

"The EC will be issued only after the Stage-1 FC submitted by the proponent....FC has been granted on November 23, 2012. Keeping the FC and these OMs(Office Memorandum) in view, the proposal was referred to the EAC for taking a view," the document said.