CB BureauLooking at the the never-ending issue between the ministry of coal and the ministry of environment, the cabinet has decided to form a group of
ministers (GoM) to look into the issue of ‘no-go’ mining areas.
The GoM is expected to find a balanced approach towards the
issue of environmental clearances to mining areas, while ensuring the ecology is
not hurt.
Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told PTI, ‘The Cabinet
Committee of Infrastructure (CCI) today referred the matter to a GoM for
discussions on the issue.’
He, however, added that ‘members of the panel will be
decided by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon and we are waiting for the
further guidelines’.
Last year, environment ministry had defined ‘no-go’ areas
for mining as those that have over 30 per cent gross forest cover or over 10
per cent weighted forest cover.
As per the guidelines, the mining is allowed
only in the ‘go’ areas.
The ‘no-go’ classification has brought 206 coal blocks
involving a production potential of 660 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) under
its ambit.
The coal ministry has been pressing for lifting the ban but
the Environment Ministry has refused to relent. As a result, the matter reached
the Prime Minister’s Office which is keen to find a solution.
The GoM is likely to be headed by Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee and would include senior ministers including Home Minister P
Chidambaram, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh, Mines Minister BK Handique and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek
Singh Ahluwalia.