Govt to discuss 'no-go' mining areas next week

Amid Plan panel seeking 'sensible' definition of 'no-go' mining areas, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal today said the issue will come up before the Cabinet next week to work out a solution.

"We have circulated a cabinet note 15 days back. Hopefully, it will be taken up by the cabinet next week for discussion and some way out will be found," Jaiswal told reporters here on the sidelines of a meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on safety of mines.

"We have explained in the cabinet note about the impact that how much (coal) production is being affected", Jaiswal said.

Ministry of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has defined 'no-go' areas for mining as those that have over 30 per cent gross forest cover or over 10 per cent weighted forest cover.

As per the guidelines, the mining is allowed only in the 'go' areas.

Due to this classification, 206 coal blocks spread across 4,039 sq km in nine coalfields, involving a production potential of 660 million tonnes (MT), have been designated as 'no go' areas.

Plan Panel Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had said on Wednesday that "if we get a sensible definition of what is 'no-go'...Something that is called 'no-go' for now does not have to be 'no-go' for ever. But the main point is that they should be flexible".

He had also said that "the criteria that we use to establish what is 'no-go' should be very carefully defined and should be based on some scientific considerations".

The Coal Ministry, in its note, had said that "all the proposals should be considered for forestry clearance unless these are insurmountable issues on grounds of biodiversity, wildlife reserves and rich forests."

Debarring such big areas with production capacity of 660 million tonnes coal from mining will adversely impact power generation capacity, the Coal Ministry proposal has argued.

It was also of the view that the country could see a coal shortage of 500 million tonnes in the next few years on account of such a classification.

Such categorisation has also put several existing and upcoming coal mining operations, including captive mines of two ultra mega power projects on bidding in Chhattisgarh and Orissa, under 'no go' besides affecting Coal India's operations.