GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 2228
ANSWERED ON: 0.03.2011
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE TO COAL PROJECTS
(a) whether non-clearance to some of the coal proects by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and some other factors have resulted in shortage of coal in the country;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereon;
(c) whether any discussions have been held between his Ministry and the Ministry of Environment and Forests regarding re-classifying of coal bearing areas under forest areas;
(d) if so, the outcome thereof;
(e) the details of pending coal proects with the Ministry of Environment and Forests for environmental and forest clearance, proect-wise and coal subsidiary-wise; and
(f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to expedite the clearance?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL (SHRI PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU PATIL)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): Meetings/discussions are regularly held between Ministry of Environment and Forests and this Ministry to expedite Environmental and Forestry Clearances. This is a continuous process. Other issues are like Rehabilitation Resettlement (RR), land acuisition, law and order etc are also taken up regularly for resolution with appropriate authorities.
(c) (d): The issue of providing move of coal bearing areas under forest cover for coal mining is under deliberation at the highest level by a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted for the purpose by the Government.
(e): The details of pending coal proects with MoEF are as under:
(i) Pending Stage I and Stage-II forestry proposals:
Stage-I o. of projects pending Stage-II o. of projects pending at at MoF and State eel MoF and State eel
Sl Subsidiaries Projects MoF/State Projects MoF/State
1. astern Coalfields imited 3 (1) MoF (2) State 1 (1) State
2. Bharat Coking Coal imited 1 (1) MoF 2 (2) State
3. Central Coalfields imited 14 (4) MoF (10) State 11 (7) MoF (4) State
4. orthern Coalfields imited 1 (1) State 1 (1) MoF
5. Western Coalfields imited 27 (5) MoF (22) State 6 (6) State
6. Sourth astern Coalfields 47 (9) MoF 33 (11) MoF imited (38) State (22) State
7 Mahanadi Coalfields imited 16 (16) State
8. orth astern Coalfields 7 (7) State
(ii) Pending for nironmental Clearances
Sl Total o.of Projects pending for projects
1. 14 Terms of Reference (TOR)
2. 25 Public earing (P)
3. 8 nironmental Appraisals Committee (AC)
4. 20 nironment Clearance
(f): The following steps have been taken to expedite the clearances:
i) Vigorous follow up action with land acuisition officials of State Govts. to expedite acuisition proceedings.
ii) Forest Officials are contacted on regular basis at District Tehsil level to fulfil the reuirement ueries. iii) Periodical contacts are done with the Regional Office of MOEF/ MOEF, New Delhi for expediting clearance of the environmental forestry proposals.
iv) Discussions are held with the land owners/ villagers for selection of rehabilitation site and also to persuade them to shift to the rehabilitation site.
v) State authorities are apprised regularly for resolving law and order issues.