The Chhattisgarh government has asked the ministry of environment and forests to reconsider the allocation of coal blocks in Hasdeo- Arand coalfield in the state. The coal blocks are stuck at the forest clearance level as several coalmines identified in the area would necessitate the diversion of forest land.
The ministry of power has also urged the MoEF to take an early decision in view of the urgent requirement of coal from these blocks.
As many as 20 coal blocks have been identified by the Ranchibased Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd. Of these, the environment ministry has received proposals for diversion of forest land for seven coalmines. Proposals of at least four mines- Paturiya-Gidhmuri, Nakiya-I&II, Madanpur (South) and Tara-were examined and rejected by the forest advisory committee because of the dense forest area and the presence of Sal trees.
State Chief Secretary Parampath Joy Oommen said that the Centre must take a comprehensive view on development and admitted that some environment impact could not avoided. He noted that a lot of time, money and energy had already gone into these projects, as forest clearance was one of the last milestones to cross in the development of a power project or coalmine. He said that the forest area in these coal blocks was hardly 2 per cent of the total forest area of the state and that the state had little option but to develop its mineral resources for economic growth.
Oommen suggested thirdparty verification and creation of a special fund for environment management.
Commenting on the issue, Union Power Secretary H.S. Brahma said that the protection of forest land on one hand and economic development on the other should be considered in tandem rather than in isolation. He sought an early decision on the coalmines in the Hasdeo-Arand area so that coal could be made available to the power sector and investment in capacity addition projects did not remain idle.
The ministry of power has also urged the MoEF to take an early decision in view of the urgent requirement of coal from these blocks.
As many as 20 coal blocks have been identified by the Ranchibased Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd. Of these, the environment ministry has received proposals for diversion of forest land for seven coalmines. Proposals of at least four mines- Paturiya-Gidhmuri, Nakiya-I&II, Madanpur (South) and Tara-were examined and rejected by the forest advisory committee because of the dense forest area and the presence of Sal trees.
State Chief Secretary Parampath Joy Oommen said that the Centre must take a comprehensive view on development and admitted that some environment impact could not avoided. He noted that a lot of time, money and energy had already gone into these projects, as forest clearance was one of the last milestones to cross in the development of a power project or coalmine. He said that the forest area in these coal blocks was hardly 2 per cent of the total forest area of the state and that the state had little option but to develop its mineral resources for economic growth.
Oommen suggested thirdparty verification and creation of a special fund for environment management.
Commenting on the issue, Union Power Secretary H.S. Brahma said that the protection of forest land on one hand and economic development on the other should be considered in tandem rather than in isolation. He sought an early decision on the coalmines in the Hasdeo-Arand area so that coal could be made available to the power sector and investment in capacity addition projects did not remain idle.
The use of sophisticated software systems for coal mining (thermal coal, steam coal and metallurgical coal) that is mostly burnt for power generation and steel production and adds to the greenhouse effect is valid for western countries who may allocate resources and funds to alternative and more greener sources of power. Some of the alternatives may be "safer" than the traditional mines. Unfortunately, coal reports and coal statistics show developing economies are more likely to increase their use of thermal coal & metallurgical coal in coming years because of its affordability and to meet increasing demands for electricity and steel. Whether they will embrace and utilise sophisticated software systems that no doubt add to the cost of production is yet to be seen. Cherry of www.coalportal.com
ReplyDeleteOnly time will tell how far the developed countries can continue avoiding coal. 2012 is not that far !
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