The group of ministers (GoM) on coal has approved conditional environment clearances to the Mahan and Chhatrasal coal mines projects. The projects would now go to the cabinet for final clearance.
The decision came after the GoM in its meeting in March had asked the environment ministry to form an expert panel to evaluate the impact of mining in the two mines on environment.
The Mahan coal block was jointly allocated to Essar and Hindalco for thermal power plant in April 2006, while the Chhatrasal block was given to Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power to feed its 4,000-MW ultra-mega power project at Sasan, in Madhya Pradesh in October 2006. At its peak production, Chhatrasal coal block would produce 5 million tonnes per year.