Amidst a slew of measures to speed up development in the country, the Environment Ministry has decided to do away with the public hearing needed for expansion of big coal mining projects, bringing relief to coal majors in the country. The move is aimed at raising coal production and reducing power deficit in the country.
According to sources, the Power Ministry had pursued MoEF in this regard, to clear backlogs of pending coal projects. This is expected to particularly benefit key coal players like Coal India ltd and some private companies with several of their projects hanging in the balance for years in want of environmental clearance.
According to officials, new projects seeking expansion of coal mining stuck in the MoEF are being taken on a priority basis as the coal stocks are reducing. Accordingly, the Ministry decided that in respect of one-time capacity expansion proposals of existing big coal mining projects with production capacity exceeding 20 MTPA, the EAC (Environment Appraisal Committee) may after due diligence consider exempting public hearing if the transportation of additional production of coal is proposed by means of a conveyor and/ or rail transport.
Close on the heels of easing out norms for the coal ministry , sources said that the Ministry is also mulling to make all strategic border projects falling within 100 km from International Border, line of Actual Control and line of Control fully exempt from obtaining environment/ forest/ wildlife clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the State/ Union Territory Governments.
This comes following suggestions from the Home Ministry to MoEF pointing to the delays in strategic projects including border roads, fencing, border out posts, floodlighting, surveillance infrastructure and power infrastructure amongst others.
MoEF has also been suggested that in respect of environment, forest and wildlife clearances, the Executing agencies as CPWD and public sector undertakings engaged in border infrastructure work may be treated at par with Border Roads Organisation
Earlier, in July, the Ministry had already relaxed norms towards building border roads in the country. It has accorded general approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for construction and widening of two lane roads by the BRO/ other agencies whom the Ministry of Defence entrusts the job, in the area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the lAC and widening of link roads, between Border roads in the area within 100 kilometer aerial distance from the lAC and National Highways/State Highways/Other State Roads.