MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c) The Ministry of Environment and Forests has received eight proposals for
diversion of forest land for mining in the Hasdeo-Arand forest region of Chhattisgarh. The
proposals for forest clearances are considered by the Forest Advisory Committee which is a
recommending body and the Ministry takes decision taking into consideration the recommendation
of the FAC. The FAC had recommended for approval one project in the region, namely, Chotiya I
and II. The Ministry has given final approval to this project and in- principal approval to
another three projects namely, Tara, Parsa and ‘Parsa East and Kaenta Basan’ in the region.
The remaining four proposals pertaining to Pituria Gidhumuri , ‘Nakiya I and II’, Morga II
and Madanpur South coal blocks have been rejected. Clearance under Environmental (Protection)
Act, 1986 has been given to Chotiya I and II block only.
(d) Decision of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to accord forest clearance to the
proposals are inter alia based on following considerations:
i) The coal blocks of Tara, Parsa East and Kaenta Basan are located in the fringe of the
Hasdeo-Arand forest region.
ii) These coal blocks are linked to super-critical thermal power stations. Super-critical
technology is essential for the country to address the concerns for global warming.
iii) The Project proponents have introduced substantial changes in the mining plans to
accommodate the concerns of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and concerns for wildlife
conservation shall be taken care of through a well-prepared and well-executed wildlife
management plan.
iv) The broad developmental picture arising out of the need to sustain the momentum
generated in 11th Five Year Plan in terms of capacity addition to power generation has
necessitated sanctioning of the projects.
No proposals falling in Hasdeo-Arand forest area are pending for clearance under the
Forest (Conservation) Act in the Ministry.
