Untapped Coal Reserves

A study is going on under the purview of Ministry of Environment and Forests to demarcate the category ‘A’ & category ‘B’ coal blocks. When a coal block having large forest area or dense forest cover or forms a part of unbroken landscape or located in important wild life areas will fall in ‘A’ category. Application of forest clearance will not be entertained in such areas. Rest of the areas will fall in ‘B’ category where applications for clearance will be entertained and processed under Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

This information was given by Minister of State for Coal, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Today.

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NCJ/SR