Ramesh seeks PMO help over alternate coal block
In what may spark yet another intra-cabinet row, Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has sought the prime minister’s intervention to convince Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal for approving a new coal block as an alternative to another coal-block located deep inside a pristine forest in Chhattisgarh, which cannot be cleared for mining.
The coal ministry is sitting on the alternate mine proposal for months hoping that Ramesh would eventually buckle under pressure and clear the block, proposed for a 1800 MW power plant. The coal block is located inside the biodiversity-rich Hasdeo-Arand forest.
“I have shown considerable flexibility and the least that the Ministry of Coal can do is to reciprocate in situations where I cannot work out a compromise,” Ramesh said in angry letter to TKA Nair, principal secretary in the PMO.
The environment minister had approved three coal blocks in the fringe area of Hasdeo-Arand forest. But those three mines were separated by a “well-defined high hilly-ridge and are in a totally different watershed.” Ramesh, however, put his foot down in granting the forest clearance for Morga-II block, which is inside the forest’s core area.
After the permissions were refused, the project proponents – Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation and KSK Mahanadi Power Company Ltd – identified an alternate block, Bhalumunda. Two senior officials of the company met Ramesh last week to clarify that they had no objections if an alternative coal block was given to them.
“The Ministry of Coal is not considering the alternative block because it still hopes Morga-II will be given forest clearance. The principal secretary to prime minister should intervene in the matter and ensure that Bhalumunda is allotted to GMDC since there is absolutely no way that I will agree to Morga-II,” he said.
Incidentally, the Central Electricity Authority has already approved Bhalumunda and made a recommendation to the coal ministry.
“It is to be hoped that the Coal Ministry will make the alternative coal-block allocation given the flexibility that the Environment Ministry is demonstrating in allowing some coal blocks allocated five-six years ago in forest-rich areas to be mined in view of developmental imperatives,” he said.
