Panel clears mining project of Western Coalfields

New Delhi: A high-level panel has recommended environment clearance, with some riders, for the expansion of mining project of CIL’s arm, Western Coalfields Ltd, in Maharashtra.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) “after detailed deliberations, recommended for granting EC (Environment Clearance) with…specific conditions”, according to an official document.[caption id=“attachment_110358” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  New coal mining. Reuters[/caption]

The conditions are that rain water harvesting and other facilities should be created for ground water recharge, no bore well should be made close to the mine and plantation of certain species should be avoided and only native plant species be planted, the document said.

The proposal is for expansion of Pauni opencast mine from from 0.72 million tonnes per annum to 0.90 MTPA of WCL.

The panel had earlier deferred its decision on the project and sought information for further consideration.

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It had sought details like action plan alongwith time frame and budget for construction of check dam/water conservation.

The panel had earlier said “there are several non-compliances of the EC (Environment Clearance) conditions as submitted by the RO (Regional Office), MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests)”.

The project was accorded environment clearance in 2006 for 0.72 MTPA. The Coal India Ltd arm had sought environment clearance for 25 percent expansion of the coal mining project.

PTI