Coal news and updates

Green nod for Maharashtra mine corp’s coal block deferred

A high-level panel in the Environment Ministry has deferred the decision on granting green approval to Maharashtra State Mining Corporation’s open cast coal mining project in the State.

“The proponent informed the Committee (Environment Appraisal Committee) that the Inter-Ministerial Group had recommended that block is liable for de-allocation. In view of the recommendations of the IMG, the committee deferred the project for further consideration,” according to an official document.

Show cause notice

It further said: “The EAC has noted that Ministry of Coal... issued show-cause notice to the proponent to explain as to why the delay in the development of coal block should not be held as violation of the terms and conditions of the allocation of coal Block and why the block should not be de-allocated.”

The State-run miner is seeking environment clearance for the Marki-Zari-Jamani-Adkoli opencast coal mine project having geological reserves of 11 million tonnes. IMG had earlier recommended issuing show cause notice for delays in development of the coal block. The recommendations were accepted by the government.

The Coal Ministry had said: “You are hereby called upon to show cause, on each milestone separately...as to why the delay in development of the coal block should not be held as violation of the terms and conditions of the allocation of Marki-Zari-Jamani-Adkoli coal block and why it should not be deallocated.”

Source: PTI