To discuss various environmental issues related to coal mining projects, an inter-ministerial panel, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, is expected to be held on February 18. The group of ministers (GoM) meeting will discuss the environmental and developmental issues, which are hurting overall coal production in the country and adversely impacting the domestic power sector.
The delays in acquiring land, obtaining necessary approvals as well as equipment bottlenecks are constraining the pace of power capacity addition agenda, which aims to add 88,000 MW power capacities by 2017. The panel would also deliberate the legality of existing forest clearance norms and procedures. The relocation of NTPC's proposed 1,980-MW North Karanpura project in Jharkhand to another site is also expected to be taken up by the panel.
Earlier, in January, the Environment Ministry has turned down the Coal Ministry's request for grant of 'in-principle' clearances to mines identified for auction, raising doubts over proposed competitive bidding for captive blocks. While, amid concerns over the environmental degradation, the Coal Ministry on January 8 announced modified guidelines for mines closure with stricter provisions that provide for reclamation work in a phased manner.
The 12-member panel includes Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
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