Green panel gives nod to CIL project in Jharkhand

An environment ministry panel has recommended green clearance with some riders to state-owned CIL's coal mining project in Jharkhand.
Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), an arm of CIL, was seeking green clearance for expansion of Ashok open cast project (OCP) in Chatra district of Jharkhand from 10 million tonnes per annum to 14 MTPA.
"The Committee (Expert Appraisal Committee), after detailed deliberations...Recommended for grant of environmental clearance to the project with the specific conditions," an official source said.
The conditions according to EAC are that as against the proposal for 14 MTPA (million tonnes per annum), the project proponent will not exceed 12 MTPA, and this production permission is limited to the forthcoming year 2016-17 only.

"Production enhancement beyond 12 MTPA would depend on appreciable improvement in the ambient air quality data," the official source added.
Besides, the project proponent has to immediately undertake adequate dust mitigative measures.

"73 project affected families (PAFs) have been shifted as on date but 127 number PAFs have yet to be shifted. It has been agreed by the PP that the balance number of 127 PAFs would be definitely shifted by 30th September, 2016," the conditions added.
"This is a proposal for one time capacity expansion of Ashok OCP...As per the demand and supply scenario in CCL, there will be a deficit of 7.28 Million Tonne of coal up to 2016-17 which takes into consideration the proposed expansion of Ashok OCP also. As such, the present proposal is of vital importance to CCL," the source said.

Coal India Ltd, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic dry fuel's production, is targetting to achieve an output of one billion tonnes by 2020.