The high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary drew a conclusion that land and forest issues have held up most of the coal blocks in the State in turning operational.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba during a meeting with senior officials of land Revenue, Forest and Mines and Industry Departments besides, all the allottees on Wednesday directed district-level officers to speed up the matters pending at their doorsteps.
"The Committee reviewed all the 18 blocks in question and allotted to different companies in Jharkhand. We found that all the blocks have different set of issues involved and needed specific remedies for making those operational. But in a nutshell, land clearances and subsequent forest clearances are the most common hurdle the coal blocks are facing in the State," said Mines Director SK Negi after the meeting.
The committee in the process looked specifically into all the 18 coal blocks granted by the Centre through auction or allotment to different private and Government firms following the mass cancellation done by the Supreme Court in 2014. Notably, none of the blocks given in the State has seen light of the day so far which has even prompted the Centre to intervene.
"All the DCs and District Mining Officers were present via video-conferencing and they were asked about the pending issues so far.
In most of the cases incomplete or unavailable land records, their acquisition and transfer and actual possession on ground identified as major problems. The Chief Secretary has given certain deadlines to respective district administrations to come up with clearances on their part. At the same time, allottees have also been told to fulfil all of the prerequisites," said a senior official of land Revenue Department.
The Mines Department is firm on granting the mining lease only after clear land acquisition done by the lessees followed by the Forest Clearance acquired from the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
"We are ready to grant mining permission provided they come up with land and forest clearances. There have been issues earlier due to overlooking these conditions that has attracted probes as well. We are in no mood to look the other way as far as fulfillment of set procedures are concerned," said an official of the Mines, Geology and Industry Department.
The meeting, on the other hand, also underlined the lacunas on the part of the companies in fulfilling all the preconditions. "In some cases companies are found lacking in desired papers and permissions. They have to come up well prepared with the authorities so that clearances from local level can be granted. The Chief Secretary has also pointed out the firms about laxity on their part," said an official.