Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh’s “go, no-go” policy to
keep some areas out of bounds for mining is back — with a different
name. The environment ministry under Jayanthi Natarajan plans to
demarcate some “inviolate areas” which will not be considered for green
clearances.
The ministry had agreed to the recommendations of the B K
Chaturvedi committee that all mining projects should be considered on
merit. However, it has told a group of ministers chaired by Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the “MoEF will set up a mechanism whereby
coal mines falling in ‘inviolate areas’ would not be considered for
green clearances.”
A committee headed by the MoEF secretary will help identify the
‘inviolate areas’. It has been asked to suggest neutral parameters for
mining and allied activities, government officials present at the GoM
said.
Sources in the coal ministry said that the 'go, no-go' system had
made uncertain the fate of nearly 200 coal blocks with reserves of 660
million tonnes. Even if these blocks are granted green clearances now,
it might be 2-3 years before they are developed, they said.
The sources said Mukherjee and Commerce and Industry Minister
Anand Sharma are keen that coal projects are not subjected again to the
same objections as under the ‘go, no-go’ regime. Both are of the view
that all projects in which substantial investments have been made, but
are awaiting forest clearance, should be taken up in earnest.
Source:Indian Express.
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