Environment panel recommends clearance to CCL's mining proj

A high-level panel has recommended environment clearance for the expansion of mining project of Central Coalfield Ltd, a Coal India subsidiary, in Jharkhand with certain riders.
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) "while accepting the commitments and action plan of the proponent recommended for granting the EC (environment clearance) with...Specific conditions", according to an official document.
The conditions include that the colony people are supplied with treated drinking water, sewerage treatment plant be made operational in 300 days and the baseline survey and evaluation of projects for CSR be completed within one year.
The Committee observed that CCL has submitted the action plan alongwith commitment to comply with earlier EC conditions which were not completely compiled with.

The proposal was for expansion of Govindpur Ph-II open cast coal mining project from 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 2.0 MTPA of Central Coalfields in district Hazaribag, Jharkhand.
It was earlier considered in the EAC meeting held in December, and the Committee had sought some information to further look into the proposal.

Coal India Ltd, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, is awaiting environment and forestry clearances pertaining to its 241 projects.
At present, 48 environmental clearance proposals, having a capacity of about 109 MTPA, are awaiting clearances at different levels.
Also, 193 forestry proposals are awaiting clearances either at MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) or at the state levels.

As many as 122 environmental clearance proposals for a capacity of 207 MTPA were approved by the MoEF during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12).