<p>"If we get a sensible definition of what is 'no-go'... something that is called 'no-go' for now does not have to be 'no-go' for ever," Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on the sidelines of public private partnership (PPP) conclave.<br /><br />"The criteria that we use to establish what is 'no-go' should be very carefully defined and should be based on some scientific considerations," Ahluwalia said, adding, "But the main point is that they should be flexible."<br /><br />He said he had taken up the issue with Ramesh and "he is quite willing to be flexible in what the criteria should be".<br /><br />Of late, there have been widespread concerns over the Environment Ministry's classification of 'no-go' areas, which have hit projects of companies like Hindustan Zinc, UltraTech and Essar group, said such areas need not be excluded from mining activities for ever.<br /><br />The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has divided mineral bearing regions into 'go' and 'no-go' areas. As per the guidelines, the mining is allowed only in the 'go' areas.<br /><br />Recently, the Coal Ministry had sought the Cabinet approval for its proposal that mining be allowed in 90 per cent of coal blocks labelled as 'no-mining' areas by the environment ministry.<br /><br />There are 206 coal blocks spread across 4,039 sq km in nine coalfields, with a production potential of 660 million tonnes (MT), which have been designated as 'no go' areas.<br /><br />Recently, the Coal Ministry sought the Cabinet approval for its proposal that mining be allowed in 90 per cent of coal blocks labelled as 'no-mining' areas by the environment ministry.<br /><br />The Coal Ministry, in a note to the Cabinet Secretary is believed to have sought expeditious forest clearance for all coal blocks under 'no go' areas except 10 per cent of them.</p>
<p>"If we get a sensible definition of what is 'no-go'... something that is called 'no-go' for now does not have to be 'no-go' for ever," Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on the sidelines of public private partnership (PPP) conclave.<br /><br />"The criteria that we use to establish what is 'no-go' should be very carefully defined and should be based on some scientific considerations," Ahluwalia said, adding, "But the main point is that they should be flexible."<br /><br />He said he had taken up the issue with Ramesh and "he is quite willing to be flexible in what the criteria should be".<br /><br />Of late, there have been widespread concerns over the Environment Ministry's classification of 'no-go' areas, which have hit projects of companies like Hindustan Zinc, UltraTech and Essar group, said such areas need not be excluded from mining activities for ever.<br /><br />The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has divided mineral bearing regions into 'go' and 'no-go' areas. As per the guidelines, the mining is allowed only in the 'go' areas.<br /><br />Recently, the Coal Ministry had sought the Cabinet approval for its proposal that mining be allowed in 90 per cent of coal blocks labelled as 'no-mining' areas by the environment ministry.<br /><br />There are 206 coal blocks spread across 4,039 sq km in nine coalfields, with a production potential of 660 million tonnes (MT), which have been designated as 'no go' areas.<br /><br />Recently, the Coal Ministry sought the Cabinet approval for its proposal that mining be allowed in 90 per cent of coal blocks labelled as 'no-mining' areas by the environment ministry.<br /><br />The Coal Ministry, in a note to the Cabinet Secretary is believed to have sought expeditious forest clearance for all coal blocks under 'no go' areas except 10 per cent of them.</p>