Cabinet to set up GoM on no-go mining areas

The Union Cabinet today decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) which would suggest an amicable solution to the ongoing mining “no-go” controversy and settle the inter-ministerial bickering over the issue.

“In today’s meeting of the Cabinet, the prime minister acknowledged the seriousness and the sensitive nature of the issue and took the decision that a GoM should be set up to look into it,” Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said. “The Cabinet will later take a decision on the basis of the recommendations of the GoM,” he added.

The environment ministry’s no-go classification prohibits mining activity in heavily forested areas, classified as no-go, to conserve ecology. Around 203 blocks in nine coalfields have fallen in the no-go regions, threatening major infrastructure projects.

While members of the GoM were yet to be decided, it should not take more than a month for the group to come up with its recommendations, Jaiswal said. “At least the environment and the coal ministers will be there in the GoM. In the first meeting of the GoM, I will ask for a quicker solution to the problem, as one year has already passed since the issue cropped up, and, the coal production shortfall is increasing,” he added.

The coal ministry had recently floated a Cabinet note on the issue, asking for freeing of at least 90 per cent of the blocks and offering a three times higher afforestation effort by mining companies to conserve forests.

In today’s meeting, Jaiswal also suggested putting in place stricter laws to curb violation of the government’s undertaking for higher afforestation. “While coal production had grown by 7 per cent last financial year, this year we wanted it to grow by 12 per cent. But, this will not happen now, owing to this problem,” he said.