Env Minister meets Coal Minister over issue of clearances

Keen to ensure fast clearances to infrastructure projects, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has held a meeting with Minister for Power and Coal Piyush Goel to discuss coordination and resolve any issues of differences.
The Environment and Coal ministries had been at loggerheads during the previous UPA government over the issue of clearances for mining in forest areas and Javadekar's meeting with Goel was aimed at making sure that such a situation does not arise during the current dispensation.
Javadekar said today that the matter of expediting clearances of pending projects was discussed with Goel. He, however, did not elaborate on the details of the meeting held yesterday.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the Coal Ministry seeking quicker green clearances and speed development of captive coal blocks in the forest areas, which were categorized as "go", "no-go" during the UPA rule.
After assuming charge yesterday, Javadekar had said that his Ministry will give fast clearances in a transparent manner while preserving environment.
In a bid to balance the issue of environment versus development, the Green Minister also had said that steps will be taken to bring transparency and speed in the whole process before taking a final decision on granting clearances for developmental projects.

"We believe that growth and environment protection are both possible. It is not environment versus growth. Both are possible," Javadekar had said.

In 2010, the Coal Ministry had considered keeping 10 per cent of dense forest areas in the "no go" category and open others for mining after following the due clearance process.
However, Environment Ministry is saying that 48 per cent of the forest areas in central and eastern India is not viable for mining activities as it is thick forest areas and fall in 'no go' zone barred for mining.