(PTI)
The government’s green panel has disapproved amendments to the environment clearance sought by Bharat Coking Coal for its Jharia Coalfields in Jharkhand due to the absence of forest clearance, as per the official document.
The company’s proposal was to amend the existing environment clearance given for the cluster XI group of mines that has a peak production capacity of 6.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and Moonidih water capacity of 1.6 MTPA. The amendment sought was for change in capacities of individual mines in the cluster and lease hold areas for implementation of the master plan.
After examining the proposal, an expert advisory committee (EAC) set up under the Union Environment Ministry disapproved the proposed amendment in the environmental clearance dated August 26, 2013 in view of no forest clearance available for 80.44 hectare of forest land.