Don’t block new mines,focus on ‘mitigation measures’: Plan panel to MoEF

In this,the Commission has found support from the ministry of commerce and industry,which also has asked the MoEF to re-define the geographical boundary of the polluted areas.

In a note,prepared for the Group of Ministers (GoM) on March 7,the Plan panel has pointed out that the Coal India Limited (CIL) is unable to expand production from its functioning mines owing to CEPI,which could trigger production shortfall. “A policy like this has detrimental effect on our overall energy needs. By prohibiting production through expansion of coal mines and fix-up norms,which result in non-opening of new mines,will cause major deficiencies in the energy availability and impact the pace of long-term growth,” the Commission observed in the note. In effect,the country’s apex planning body has endorsed the contentions of the coal ministry that CEPI could upset coal production plans.

The CEPI is a tool used to measure healthiness of the environment. It is intended to act as an early-warning mechanism and help in categorising industrial areas in terms of priority of the need for interventions. The MoEF in a circular on January 13,2010,had told the coal ministry that of the 88 industrial clusters in the country,43 had CEPI score of more than 70 and extended the moratorium till October 30. It also asked the concerned state pollution control boards to prepare time-bound action plans for improving the environment quality in these areas. But thereafter in another notification on October 26,it lifted the moratorium on environmental clearance in five areas. In its opinion also incorporated in the note,the commerce and industry ministry has said that CEPI should be refined to indicate the defined geographical boundary of the polluted area,conducting an apportionment analysis with regard to habitations and industries in the identified area. It also suggested that MoEF should identify the pollution load on air and water on account of different stakeholders.

The demand for coal has been estimated at 713 MT by the terminal year of the 11th Plan and the supply deficit has been estimated to be more than 80 MT,which will have to be met through imports.