Chhattisgarh has urged the Central government not to include coal blocks in the catchment areas of Hasdeo Aranya and adjoining Mand River and areas within the proposed elephant reserve in the state in the upcoming coal block auction to be conducted by New Delhi.
Akbar made the submission in a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javdekar.
He said that exclusion of coal blocks situated in these areas of Chhattisgarh from auction would be appropriate so as to protect forests and environment.
Akbar pointed out that the central and northern region of Chhattisgarh is covered with dense forests on one side but it also has abundant coal reserves.
At present, mining is being done in the areas allotted to various central, state and private institutions. In the said area, auction of coal blocks is also proposed in the two important rivers of the state, Hasdeo and the catchment area of Mand.
It has been decided to declare the 1995 sq km area adjoining the Hasdeo River as Lemru Elephant Reserve in view of the continuous increase in the number of elephants in the state, increase in incidence of human-elephant conflict and the need for elephant habitat.
The letter stated that to protect forests and save environment besides controlling human-elephant conflict, it is important to stop future mining activities in the area. Thus, exclusion of coal blocks in these areas would be appropriate.
