On the basis of the documents procured through Right To Information (RTI), the NGO Greenpeace has claimed that the Mahan coal mine project may not go ahead.
Greenpeace in a statement here on Tuesday said that in an Office Memorandum of the Ministry of the Environment Forests and Climate Change dated December 22, 2014 secured through RTI it is clearly stated that even though the Mahan project has been accorded Stage II Forest Clearance, the Mahan block may not be put on auction as it falls in ‘inviolate forests’ and mining has not begun.
This is the third time the Environment Ministry has told the Coal Ministry to deny permission to mine Mahan, the statement said. The Greenpeace statement further said that if the recommendations are adhered to, the decision represents a huge victory for campaigners and the people of Mahan who say the Madhya Pradesh coal project would have impacted endangered wildlife, destroyed over 4 lakh trees, and livelihoods of over 50,000 people from various villages located in and around the forest.
Greenpeace campaigner Priya Pillai said, “This is wonderful news for the people of Mahan who have been fighting to save the forests. It vindicates our stand that this is one of India’s oldest forests that should be protected from coal mining. This once again proves that our campaign for Mahan and the rights of the people of Mahan is in national interest – environmentalism and human rights are not crimes.”
The ball is now in the Coal Ministry’s court which has to come clear on their situation on MoEF’s recommendation. The block was allocated to a joint venture between Hindalco industries and Essar Power in 2006 and was to supply coal for 14 years to a power plant of Essar and aluminium project of Hindalco.