Friday,Jun24,2011, TNN
NEW DELHI: The first signs of Jairam Ramesh easing his stand on the `go no-go' policy came on Thursday with the Union environment minister clearing three coal block projects in the dense forests of Hasdeo-Arand region of Chhattisgarh against the repeated recommendations of his Forest Advisory Committee.
In a speaking order explaining why he had not accepted the FAC's advise, Ramesh accorded the forest clearance to Tara, Parsa East and Kante Basan coal blocks.
In his order he gave six reasons for doing so. He said the projects were on the fringe of the thick forest block that he had earlier made his icon for the `go no-go' policy. He said the project had been curtailed from their earlier versions and the proponent had accommodated the ministry's concerns which he was reciprocating. He noted that the wildlife conservation concerns could be addressed with the help of expert organizations such as the Nature Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Trust of India, Indian Institute of Science and the government run Wildlife Institute of India.
He cited the importance of the mining linked supercritical thermal power plant, which would help the country deal with climate change. He also put on record that the chief ministers of Rajasthan (where some of the coal would be used) and Chhattisgarh have been pursuing the case for mining ardently with him and the Prime Minister.
Ramesh recorded that he was taking a wider picture than what the FAC is mandated to do and keeping the 'developmental picture' in mind while taking the decision.
The FAC had pointed out that the state government had under-reported the health of the forests suggesting it was diseased saal forests whereas it was a dense healthy one. The FAC had pointed out in its report that the state government and project proponents claimed they would transplant nearly 70,000 trees which was not found feasible. The Committee had also taken into consideration while showing the red flag to the coal blocks that the forests were important for elephant conservation.
TOI had earlier reported how the Chhattisgarh government, after the insistence of Confederation of Indian Industry, had withdrawn its proposal to declare the region an elephant reserve because there was exploitable coal reserves under the patch of green.
The FAC had twice reviewed the case, the second time on the suggestion of the environment minister to take up the proposals again, but given the same decision.
Ramesh has while clearing the three coal blocks said Chhattisgarh should be compensated financially for not exploiting the rest of the rich forest area with a kind of `green bonus'. He has said opening of any more coal blocks in the belt will severely disturb the fragile ecosystem of Hasdeo-Arand forests. (sourced TOI)
NEW DELHI: The first signs of Jairam Ramesh easing his stand on the `go no-go' policy came on Thursday with the Union environment minister clearing three coal block projects in the dense forests of Hasdeo-Arand region of Chhattisgarh against the repeated recommendations of his Forest Advisory Committee.
In a speaking order explaining why he had not accepted the FAC's advise, Ramesh accorded the forest clearance to Tara, Parsa East and Kante Basan coal blocks.
In his order he gave six reasons for doing so. He said the projects were on the fringe of the thick forest block that he had earlier made his icon for the `go no-go' policy. He said the project had been curtailed from their earlier versions and the proponent had accommodated the ministry's concerns which he was reciprocating. He noted that the wildlife conservation concerns could be addressed with the help of expert organizations such as the Nature Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Trust of India, Indian Institute of Science and the government run Wildlife Institute of India.
He cited the importance of the mining linked supercritical thermal power plant, which would help the country deal with climate change. He also put on record that the chief ministers of Rajasthan (where some of the coal would be used) and Chhattisgarh have been pursuing the case for mining ardently with him and the Prime Minister.
Ramesh recorded that he was taking a wider picture than what the FAC is mandated to do and keeping the 'developmental picture' in mind while taking the decision.
The FAC had pointed out that the state government had under-reported the health of the forests suggesting it was diseased saal forests whereas it was a dense healthy one. The FAC had pointed out in its report that the state government and project proponents claimed they would transplant nearly 70,000 trees which was not found feasible. The Committee had also taken into consideration while showing the red flag to the coal blocks that the forests were important for elephant conservation.
TOI had earlier reported how the Chhattisgarh government, after the insistence of Confederation of Indian Industry, had withdrawn its proposal to declare the region an elephant reserve because there was exploitable coal reserves under the patch of green.
The FAC had twice reviewed the case, the second time on the suggestion of the environment minister to take up the proposals again, but given the same decision.
Ramesh has while clearing the three coal blocks said Chhattisgarh should be compensated financially for not exploiting the rest of the rich forest area with a kind of `green bonus'. He has said opening of any more coal blocks in the belt will severely disturb the fragile ecosystem of Hasdeo-Arand forests. (sourced TOI)
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