The coal ministry, which is pursuing a coal production target of 600 million tonne by the end of the 11th Plan, has called upon the ministry of environment and forests to determine the impact of aggregate coal production, rather than individual projects, on the environment.
The coal ministry argued that an environment clearance be provided for the entire coalfield, taking into account the capacity of production and action against officials in the field should not be initiated for such acts. Besides, the coal ministry has reiterated the need for a model term of reference for opencast and underground coal projects in order to avoid delays.
Coal ministry sources told FE that it usually becomes imperative that one meets the deficit in coal production in a particular project by increasing the production from other projects.
The strict enforcement of environment clearance conditions would imply that projects in which production has been higher than approved capacities are violating such norms. ?Thus environment clearance can be provided for the entire coalfield, taking into account the capacity of production, the duration during which aggregate coal production from a coalfield is not exceeding the aggregate coal production permissible under environment clearances of individual projects and pollution loads within permissible limits.?
The coal ministry has also suggested that coal-bearing forest areas be delineated into ?go? and ?no-go? areas so that areas identified ?no-go? can totally be excluded from exploration and reclassification of coal resources falling under these areas, keeping in mind the country?s energy requirement.
Further, the validity of environment and forest clearances should be provided for the entire lifetime of mines. ?This is essential because more than 30 years have already elapsed after nationalisation. Mining leases issued earlier have expired and until they are renewed, continuing the production from these mines would be in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act. However, production cannot be stopped from these mines keeping in mind the compelling demand for coal,? the sources said.
Moreover, the coal ministry has argued that environmental clearances for small mines be given on a cluster basis. During nationalisation, a number of small mines were taken over. Such mines are still continuing production and no project reports are available for such mines. Further production from these mines is gradually decreasing and there is no chance of any additional pollution load.
