(a) whether it is more time consuming to obtain No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change after allocation of coal blocks to the States;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the corrective steps being taken by the Government to ensure timely issue of NoC by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR COAL, POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change does not provide / issue ‘No Objection Certificate’ after the allocation of coal blocks. However, in case a coal blocks exists in a forest area, mandatory clearances under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and/ or Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are to be obtained before execution of mining lease and commencement of any coal mining. In cases where forest clearances were granted before the cancellation of coal blocks by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, then these clearances are transferred in favour of new allocattee in whose favour the coal block has been allocated on payment of requisite fee, on the same terms and conditions as imposed in the earlier forest clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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