MoEF panel against mining in MP area

If Project Tiger has its way,there will be no more coal mining in Chhindwara on a forest corridor nestling Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh....

If Project Tiger has its way,there will be no more coal mining in Chhindwara on a forest corridor nestling Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh in what is likely to be the first standoff between coal mining and tiger reserves. A Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) special committee,instituted for the express purpose of examining mining proposals both in and around tiger reserves,has turned down all mining proposals for the area.

The report prepared by the committee has also suggested that existing coal mines in the area be shut down. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh introduced the controversial concept of go and no-go areas,including tiger reserves as the no-go areas. Recently,Ramesh said he may expand the amount of go areas,working with the Coal Ministry. But with a slew of mining project proposals and lease extension proposals around tiger reserves,the MoEF settting up the committee is seen as a bid to introduce specialists in the controversy.

The committee has been tasked with appraising 32 coal-related projects adjoining prime tiger habitat,around Kanha,Bandhavgarh,Tadoba,Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Of these,as many as 8 projects are at Chhindwara. We have inspected the areas. And we find that if the corridor has to be protected,coal mining in Chhindwara has to stop. The projects whose lease will expire have to be stopped and no new mining should take place here, says a member of the committee.

Story continues below this ad

Of the 32 projects,7 projects are at Chandrapur,50 kilometres off Tadoba tiger reserve. Some of these proposals fall on forest land and will involve diversion of forest land.

The issue of not allowing infrastructure inside the highly protected tiger reserves came to a head recently as Road Highways and Transport Minister Kamal Nath complained to the Prime Minister that Ramesh was obstructing the construction of national highways through Pench Tiger reserve. Further,Ramesh was rapped for asking for fresh environment clearances for the widening of existing highways running through forests.

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes near east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka region

World1 hr ago

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Russia's Kamchatka region on Saturday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km and was felt on the east coast.

View all shorts

Live Blog