The Coal Ministry has written to the Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI) for streamlining granting of clearances by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for various coal mining projects in the country.
The Coal Ministry has asked the CCI to consider parallel processing of environmental clearance (EC) and forest clearance (FC) for coal projects as in the case of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects. “Further, the issue of enhanced borehole density for exploration in forest areas without the need for seeking prior EC needs to be resolved urgently,” the Coal Ministry note states.
The note points out that, at present , 11 proposals of Coal India Limited (CIL) are awaiting an EC by the MoEF, where the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) has recommended issuance of EC. Two projects are awaiting grant of terms of reference (ToR) and the EAC has already recommended the same. Seven proposals are pending for grant of EC where coal companies have submitted all necessary documents and the same are to be considered by EAC. Further, in the case of seven proposals, coal companies have submitted the required documents for grant of ToR and EAC to consider the same.
Fast-tracking
The Ministry pointed out that after the intervention of the CCI, the MoEF has been fast-tracking the pending proposals for EC & FC. During the period April, 1, 2012 and March 15, 2013, the MoEF had granted EC to 31 proposals of CIL and ToR to six proposals.