The Odisha Government has proposed axing over one lakh trees on behalf of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a coal mining company jointly owned by the Government of Telangana and Government of India, for conducting mining operations in the Naini block in Angul district in the State.
However, the proposal has been put on hold by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Environment Ministry after it found that there were discrepancies in the number of trees that will be felled in various reports submitted by the various agencies.
“As per DFO report, it is 1,06,536 trees, whereas RCCF reported 1,06,209, and the SIR (site inspection report) of Regional office reported 1,05,092 trees,” said the panel headed by Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the Ministry in minutes of meeting held on September 21, 2020.
The FAC was studying the Odisha Government’s proposal for diversion of 783.275 hectares of forest land consisting of 643.095 hectares of reserve forest in Chhendipada and Kankurupal Reserved Forest and 140.180 hectares of village forest land in Chhendipada Range of Angul Division for Naini Coal Block (Open Cast) in Angul district, Odisha for SCCL.
According to the SCCL, Naini would boost its output, which was aiming to produce one crore tonnes of coal every year and has targeted commencement of production by February 2021.
A total lease area (912.799 hactares) for mining was sought for 40 years. However, throwing the spanner on the SCCL plans, the FAC had various reasons to defer the proposal. The SIR report which pointed out that elephant movement was reported in the northern and southern part of lease area was yet another reason.
“Also, if the area is mined out, the surrounding villages will be impacted more. So a detailed mitigation plan needs to be prepared for avoiding human-animal conflict in future and for providing safe passage to elephants,” said the FAC quoting the SIR report prepared by RK Samal, DIG of Forest in the Central Ministry.
It also suggested constructing an underpass on SH 63 to prevent jumbo getting killed in road mishaps. The Committee also took exception that while the State Government has recommended compensatory afforestation over degraded forest land equivalent to double the area proposed for diversion, it is proposed in reserved forests.
The State Government shall explore the option of finding degraded forest area outside the notified forests considering that the reserved forest option is available for proposals of the Central Government and the CPSU only.
The FAC also expressed its concern over the State Government’s proposal to set up a coal washery in the forest land (40 hectares), a portion in the project area.
“The State Government shall explore the possibility of establishing the coal washery, which is a non-site specific use, on non-forest area. The alternatives explored may be submitted,” said the FAC which also expressed concerned that the substantial outflow of wastewater from a washery might have negative impact on the flora and fauna of the locality.
“All mitigation measures that are essential to minimise the impact of the proposed washery shall be listed if it could not be located outside forest land,” said the FAC.
Movement of elephants has been reported in the northern and southern part of lease area. It is also reported that the proposed Similipal-Satkosia Tiger Corridor is about 8.12 km on the north side of the proposed project. Mining in the area is likely to cause Human-animal conflict in the area. Comments in this regard shall be sought from NTCA and Project Elephant Division of the Environment Ministry, it said.